College Field Hockey
Rider University 3, Colgate University 1

LAWRENCEVILLE—Freshman Allison Baligian broke a 1-1 tie, scoring her team-leading sixth goal of the season, as the Rider University field hockey team won for the third time in a row, 3-1 over Colgate University on Friday afternoon at Ben Cohen Field.

“It was a well played game by both teams,” said head coach Lori Hussong.  “Colgate is 3-0 in the Patriot League and we know every time we play them, they are going to be a tough opponent.”

Baligian (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) tipped in a pass from sophomore Carlota Alsina (Barcelona, Spain) off an initial pass from senior Dezarae Fillmyer (Roebling, N.J./Florence) for her third game-winner of the season, hitting the back of the cage with 28 minutes left in the contest.

“Allison has been clutch all season for us,” Hussong said.  “Being a freshman, she has responded well to the pressure of being a rookie and us counting on her.”

“Carlota sent in a great pass from Dez and I stuck my stick out  and it went in,” Baligian remembered about the game-winner.  “The skill level coming from high school has been the biggest difference adjusting to the collegiate game.  The game is a lot faster and harder.”

Rider (6-5) trailed 1-0 after Colgate (4-7) opened the scoring at the 12:31 mark of the opening half.

“When we've gotten down in games, we have toughened up,” Hussong said.  “Our team is a bunch of fighters.  We are hard to score on and it is a credit to the work ethic.  We have shown improvement this season.”

The Broncs tied the score 1-1 when Alsina tipped in a pass from freshman Kesheal Henderson (Heath, Mass./Mohawk Regional) at the top of the circle with less than nine minutes remaining in the opening period.  For Alsina, it was her first goal of the season with Henderson notching her first assist.

“I was at the top of the circle and wide open and Kesheal gave me a beautiful pass,” Alsina said about her goal.  “I had an open cage and luckily it went in.  We have a young team and we are playing hard and playing together.”

“We moved Carlota up to the front line to generate some more attack,” Hussong said.  “She has great ball skills and great vision.  She created several two on one and three on two opportunities.”

Rider scored an insurance goal with 6:33 left in the game when freshman Shannon Hughes (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) tipped in a pass from junior Melyssa Alonso (Toms River, N.J./Toms River HS North) for the final score.  For Hughes it was her first collegiate goal with Alonso recording her first assist.

Junior goalie Joelle Prettyman (Newark, N.J./St. Mark's) made five saves as Rider out-shot the Raiders 21-9.  Prettyman improved to 5-5 on the season.

Rider had an 18-10 advantage in penalty corners.

The Broncs snapped Colgate's two-game winning streak.

Rider and Colgate last met in the 2013 season opener on August 30 in Lawrenceville when the Broncs also rallied from a 1-0 deficit to win 3-2.  Rider defeated Colgate 5-1 in 2012 in Lawrenceville and the Broncs have won 10 of the 22 games all-time against the Raiders.  Rider defeated Colgate 5-0 on September 4, 2010 in its first game on the new lighted turf field.  The Broncs defeated Colgate in Hamilton, New York by a 3-1 score on September 6, 2009.  Colgate defeated Rider in a neutral site game in West Long Branch on September 7, 2008, also by a 3-1 score.

The Broncs won for the fourth time in five games at Ben Cohen Field this season.

Rider travels to Vermont for a non-conference game on Sunday at noon.

-RU-