Men's MAAC Soccer Saturday
Broncs Host Marist on Soccer Alumni Day
LAWRENCEVILLE—The Rider University men's soccer team will begin Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play on Saturday when the Broncs host their oldest conference rival, Marist College, at 1pm on the Ben Cohen Field.
Rider (5-3) and Marist (1-7) have been conference rivals since 1992 when the two institutions competed in the Northeast Conference, and both moved to the MAAC in 1997. In both 1992 and 1997 Rider won conference titles.
This season the young Broncs are led by their defense, which has allowed a MAAC-best eight goals in eight games. Senior center back Eric Elgin (Mechanicsburg, PA/Cumberland Valley) is the team captain and captain of the defense in front of a pair of rookie goalkeepers; freshman David Pastuna (Robbinsville, NJ) and freshman Jimmy Quilter (South Brunswick, NJ).
Quilter leads the MAAC in goal against average and is second in saves per game. Quilter started the first three games of the season before being side lined with an injury, and is close to being 100 percent healthy.
Pastuna has started the last five games in the Rider nets and has three wins, including a pair of shutouts. Pastuna is third in the MAAC in goals against average.
On the offensive end freshman Christian Flath (Bargeshagen, Germany) leads the MAAC in assists (four) and is second in the MAAC in goals (four) and points (12).
This year Marist has played at nationally ranked Brown, Cal Irvine and Cal Riverside, Villanova and Army, and has scored just three goals in its eight games, while allowing 16.
The Red Foxes defeated New Hampshire three weeks ago for their only win.
Rider defeated Marist 2-0 last year to jump out to a 2-1-1 conference mark. It was just the second time in five years Rider had beaten Marist. Rider and Marist have met 21 times since 1992 and the series is tied at 10-10-1.
Prior to the Marist game the Rider Soccer Alumni will play a 10 am game and enjoy a private reception. Rider Hall of Famers Rich Giallella and John Wagner from the 1960s and Craig Wicken and Matt Miles from the 1990s are expected to be among the dozens of soccer alums on hand for the festivities.
Weather permitting, Saturday's game, as well as all home soccer games, will be streamed on BroncVision, the pay per view video stream of Rider Athletics.
GameWatcher (LiveStats) will also be available for free on the GoBroncs.com website for all home games and most away contests.
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