Women's College Soccer

Niagara University 2, Rider University 1

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY—The Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game at Niagara Wednesday. “We didn't play very well,” said Rider head coach Drayson Hounsome.

In the battle for third place Rider (8-4-1, 3-2-1 MAAC) took a 1-0 lead on a header goal by sophomore Victoria Maley (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) with assists from sophomore Heather Maierle (Wantagh, N.Y./Friends Academy) and freshman Maddie Lipton (Los Angeles, Calif. /El Camino Real Charter).

“We scored off of a corner, which was nice,” Hounsome said.

Niagara (8-2-4, 4-1-2 MAAC) tied the score with 12 minutes left in the first half and took a 2-1 lead with 30 minutes left in the second half.

The Purple Eagles out-shot Rider 20-7, including 12-3 in shots on goal. “The best team won today,” Hounsome said.  “They played better than us. They won more headers than us, more 50-50 balls than us.”

Rider sophomore goalkeeper Bethany-May Howard (Glastonbury, England/Bridgwater College) made 10 saves. Howard was named the MAAC Defensive Player of the Week last week for the third time this season.

The Broncs were playing without the MAAC's leading scorer, junior Tara Ballay, who suffered a leg injury in Rider's victory over Quinnipiac on Saturday.  Ballay ranks seventh in the nation in goals per game (11 in 12 games) and ninth in the nation in points per game (24 in 12 games).

Rider and Niagara tied 1-1 last season.

Rider and Niagara have now met 18 times, with the Purple Eagles holding an 11-6-1 advantage in the series that began in 1997.

Rider hosts Manhattan Saturday at 1pm. “It is a very short turnaround but we'll do our best to be ready for Saturday,” Hounsome said.  “It will be nice to play at home.”

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