College Field Hockey
Rider University 7, Appalachian State University 1
HARRISONBURG, Va.--Led by two goals and two assists from junior Marlaine Schneider (Feasterville, Pa./Neshaminy), the Rider University field hockey team improved to 3-0 on the season with a 7-1 win over Appalachian State (0-3) on Sunday in a game hosted by James Madison University.
Also pacing the offense was sophomore Sandra Penas (Barcelona, Spain) who scored twice and added an assist for a five point game.
"Both Marlaine and Sandra played well and came on strong today," said head coach Lori Hussong, in her 12th season at Rider. "Sandra wasn't happy with how she played against La Salle (Friday night) and came out on fire and Marlaine is just a work horse on the field. It was good to see her hit the scoring column."
Senior Virginia Egusquiza (Getxo, Spain) opened the scoring at the five minute mark, teaming up with Schneider for her fourth goal of the season, giving the Broncs a 1-0 lead.
Four minutes later, Penas scored her third goal of the season with Egusquiza and Schneider providing the helpers to put Rider up 2-0.
"We started a little sluggish," said Hussong. "The combination of the 11am start time and getting used to the turf brought us off our game a little bit. Once we adjusted and got the first couple of goals, we played fairly well the rest of the first half."
Junior Gabby Burgo (Collingswood) scored the third goal of her career and first of the season off an assist from sophomore Alicia Govannicci (Springfield, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) to give the Broncs a three goal lead at the 17:04 mark of the first half.
One minute later, Penas scored an unassisted tally, the 18th goal of her Rider career (and fourth of the season) to give Rider a 4-0 lead.
Less than four minutes later, Schneider scored with Govannicci adding her second assist and Schneider added her second goal of the game from a Penas assist at 26:03 to give Rider a 6-0 lead heading into intermission.
"Today went really well," said Schneider. "We were really aggressive in the first half. It was important that we got an early lead because the longer you let a team hang around, the more confidence they gain thinking that they can win."
"We are still trying to put together two quality halves," Hussong said about the second half being 1-1. "We didn't play our game in the final 35 minutes. We didn't pressure and steal the ball; whoever had the ball, everyone else was watching them and we didn't play together."
Senior transfer Stephanie McGinty (Trevose, Pa./Neshaminy) scored her first goal for the Broncs with 16 minutes left in the game with ASU finally hitting the back of the cage with 2:07 left for the final score.
Senior goalie Rebecca Lotito (Oceanport/Shore Regional) played the first 62 minutes, making two saves with freshman Rachel Sload (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) playing the final eight minutes.
Rider out-shot the Mountaineers 27-6 and the Broncs held a 12-1 penalty corner advantage.
The Broncs are 5-0 all-time against the Mountaineers. Rider won against ASU 6-0 in 2009 in Boone, North Carolina, 3-2 in 2008 (at West Chester) and 4-3 in overtime in 2007 in Farmville, Virginia. In 2004, the Broncs won 2-0 in Richmond.
Rider stays in Virginia to face Liberty University Monday at 1pm, the third game in four days for the Broncs.
"It is going to be a tough game," Schneider said. "We are going to have to overcome that we may be a little tired. I think we will come out on fire and ready to play."
"We're working hard to improve each game," Hussong added. "Hopefully we will be able to get the job done. I know it is a 24 hour turn around but I think we have it in us to get the win."
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