Men's College Soccer
Long Island University 1, Rider University 0
LAWRENCEVILLE-The Broncs out-shot LIU 22-9 but lost In the home debut of new head coach Charlie Inverso. "This was by far the best soccer we've played," Inverso said. "We had a lot better of the play tonight. That part is encouraging, but it doesn't feel great losing like this."
LIU (1-1-1) scored in the seventh minute of play on a corner kick. "That was a weird goal," Inverso said.
The goal was unassisted, as the corner curved into the near corner and went in off the hands of Rider junior goalkeeper Matt Perrella (North Brunswick, N.J./N. Brunswick). "We can't be giving up a goal like that," Inverso said. "It changes the whole complexion of the game."
Rider (1-3) had 11 corner kicks to LIU's nine.
The Broncs had 12 shots in the first half to LIU's four. "We dominated early yet we were chasing the game," Inverso said.
LIU goalkeeper Adam Janssen made eight saves for the shutout.
Perrella made four saves for the Broncs.
Junior Dan Friga (Clifton, N.J./Passaic County Tech) came in off the bench to add a spark for Rider, compiling six of the Broncs' shots, including three on goal. "He didn't start tonight and sometimes that is a good motivator," Inverso said. "He's got a lot of potential and I was really happy with the way he played tonight."
Freshman Matt Veltri (Mays Landing/Oakcrest) had four shots for the Broncs. "It is nice to see he is a real player," Inverso said.
Rider and LIU are former NEC rivals. Rider holds a 7-3 advantage in the series that began in 1933. LIU won the last meeting, the 2002 season opener 1-0. The last time Rider defeated LIU was 1996.
"LIU went out to the West Coast and showed that they are a very good team," Inverso said.
Long Island began the 2011 season with a pair of overtime games in Southern California, tying San Diego State 2-2 before losing 1-0 to Gonzaga.
LIU was 7-10-1 last year, 4-5-1 in the Northeast Conference.
The Broncs were 2-15-1 last year, 1-7-1 in the MAAC and scored a program-low 12 goals all season.
So at this stage of the game, just four games into the season in a non-conference game, is it better to play very well, dominate play, but lose, or to be out-played but win a 1-0 game on a fluke goal?
"It's better to win," Inverso said. "Our goal is to play like this but to win the game as well. Today was a big step forward, but it still doesn't feel good."
Over 400 people turned out for the first home game of the season. "There was a nice crowd and it was into the game," Inverso said. "For us to continue to get good crowds we have to put a good product on the field. We took a step forward as far as that goes."
Rider hosts Bryant University Sunday afternoon at 3pm. "Bryant is a good team and they haven't played since Labor Day," Inverso said.
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