Women's College Soccer
Rider University 2, NJIT 0
NEWARK--The Broncs defeated the New Jersey Institute of Technology Highlanders Friday night. "We looked very dangerous offensively," said Rider head coach Drayson Hounsome. "It was a good offensive performance and the defense played well again."
For Rider (2-1-1), junior Abi Cottam (Leominster, England/Ludlow) scored on a penalty kick 4:31 into the game to give the Broncs a 1-0 lead. "Abi drove in on the left side past two defenders and a third defender came in and sliced her down," Hounsome said.
Cottam was a second team All-MAAC selection last year and now has nine goals and eight assists in 30 career games. Her 26 career point total is already 12th most ever at Rider.
Sophomore Bridgette Bartkowski (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) scored 3:48 into the second half to give the Broncs a 2-0 lead. It was her first career goal after compiling five assists as a Rider rookie. "She's been coming close and when she did get her first goal it killed the game," Hounsome said.
"It was a really good feeling finally getting a goal," said Bartkowski, who was a MAAC All-Rookie team member last year. "(junior) Claire (Thompson of East Greenwich, R.I./E. Greenwich) ran through the ball and I picked it up and beat the defender and shot with my left foot and it went right over the 'keeper. Pretty much all of my goals in high school were with my left," said Bartkowski, who is right-handed. Or right-footed. "I actually have a better shot with my right but I always seem to end up on my left side."
For the fourth straight game freshman Danielle Singson (Deer Park, N.Y./St. Anthony's) started in goal, playing the first 45 minutes and once again did not allow a goal.
Rider junior Jenn Nichols (Stratham, N.H./Exeter) played the second half in the Rider nets and made two saves to preserve the team shutout, Rider's third in a row.
"They only had one quality shot on goal and Jenn made the save," Hounsome said."Once again both goalies played well."
The Broncs out-shot NJIT (0-3) 18-6, including 9-2 in the first half. Rider had seven shots on goal to NJIT's two.
Both teams had five corner kicks.
NJIT has 14 freshmen and sophomores on the 22-player roster and began the season with losses to Iona and Wagner.
Rider does not have a senior on the roster.
Rider and NJIT split their first two meetings, with the Highlanders winning 2-0 in Newark in 2009 and the Broncs winning 5-2 at Rider last season.
Rider began last year 1-1-2 and finished the regular season 9-7-2.
The Broncs travel to Philadelphia to take on La Salle Sunday afternoon. "We're looking forward to playing La Salle," Hounsome said. "We've got the personnel to make sure it is a good game Sunday."
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