Box Score Men's College Soccer
Rider University 6, Siena College 1
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ—The second place Saints came marching in to Lawrenceville having allowed just 11 goals all season.
Six teams make the conference playoffs and the Broncs, who scored six goals on Saturday, played like they want to be in that number.
On Senior Day, the Rider men's soccer team (8-5-2, 5-3 MAAC) moved into a tie for first place with a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory over Siena (9-6-1, 4-2-1 MAAC) Saturday afternoon.
The victory was the fourth in a row for the Broncs. The last time Rider won four consecutive games was 1999. “When we had six games remaining we thought if we could win four of them we could get into the playoffs,” said Rider head coach Charlie Inverso, “and we've won all four of them so far. We're just going to keep going.”
Rider entered the game ranked fifth in the nation in goals scored, and scored a season-high six. “I didn't expect us to be able to do that today," Inverso said.
It was the fourth time this season Rider scored five or more goals in a game and it is the most goals the Broncs have scored in a game since 2002 when the Broncs defeated Iona 8-2.
The last time Rider won five conference games in a season was 2004.
Freshman Jose Aguinaga (Madrid, Spain) led the attack with two goals and an assist, while junior Florian Valot (Monaco, France) added a goal and an assist.
Rider wasted no time in starting the scoring, as Aguinaga took a pass from sophomore Zach Bond (Holmdel, NJ) and scored just 1:24 into the game. “That was a great ball from Bond to Jose,” Inverso said.
Valot headed in a perfect pass from sophomore Rob Nardiello (Torquay, England) for a 2-0 Bronc lead in the 14th minute of play.
After Siena cut the lead to 2-1 Rider junior Sonimi Halliday (Sicklerville, NJ/Timber Creek) headed in a direct kick from sophomore Christian Flath (Bargeshagen, Germany) less than five minutes later to give Rider a 3-1 lead. “Sonimi picked us up after the Siena goal,,” Inverso said. “He's a team leader and that's what team leaders do.”
Valot dribbled down the left sideline and found a wide open junior Justin Veltri (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) in front of the net who scored for a 4-1 lead
Sophomore defended Warren Holmes (Stoke on Trent, England) scored on a pass from Aguinaga for a 5-1 lead and Aguinaga finished the scoring in the 73rd minute of play.
Rider had goals from five different players. “We've said from preseason that teams will not be able to key on just one guy,” Inverso said. “We have a lot of balance and that makes us a good team, and it makes me really happy.”
Rider out-shot Siena 13-9.
Rider sophomore David Pastuna (Robbinsville, NJ) made one save. Pastuna, the MAAC Defensive Player of the Week last week, has now allowed just two goals over the last four games.
Rider lost 3-2 at Siena last year, and Siena won 2-1 in overtime the last time the Saints visited Lawrenceville. Rider had not defeated Siena since 2004. The Saints hold a 10-6-4 advantage in the series that began in 1997.
The victory was a solid sendoff for four graduating seniors. “It was a great effort and a great win,” said senior Ryan Walsh (Chesterfield, NJ/Northern Burlington Regional). “This year's team is more mature,” Walsh said. “My first two years were rough but this year has been great. I've never been on a team that scored so much. It is a lot of fun.”
Rider travels to Monmouth Wednesday for a 7pm game. “We're hoping to get a home playoff game and bring the MAAC playoffs back to Rider,” Walsh said.
The six team playoffs begin November 8, and the Broncs want to be in that number.
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