Women's College Soccer

Rider University 0, Siena College 0 (2 OT)

LOUDONVILLE, NJ—The Broncs and Saints played to a 0-0 tie Saturday afternoon in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game. “It was a tough game,” said Rider head coach Drayson Hounsome, “but we did alright."

The one point Rider earned with the tie gives the Broncs home field advantage in the first round of the MAAC Playoffs November 1, as Rider will either finish in third place and host the sixth place team or will finish fourth, and host the fifth place team.

“We will definitely be third or fourth, so that means we will host a playoff game,” Hounsome said.  “It will be nice to be at home.”

Rider (10-4-2, 5-2-2 MAAC) out-shot Siena (6-6-6, 3-2-4 MAAC) 22-17, including 7-2 in overtime. “We created enough chances to win it,” Hounsome said. “In the overtime we hit the cross bar and had a good shot that just went wide.”

Rider sophomore goalkeeper Bethany-May Howard (Glastonbury, England/Bridgwater College) made seven saves for her fifth shutout of the season. “Beth played well,” Hounsome said.  “She kept us in it.”

The Broncs were playing without three starters, including their top two scorers, junior Tara Ballay (Delran, NJ/Delran) and sophomore Michelle Iacono (Merrick, N.Y./Calhoun), and the captain of their defense, senior Becca Kape (Westfield, NJ/Westfield), due to injuries. “We were down a couple of players but the squad rallied and did well,” Hounsome said.  “A point is a good result on the road.”

Ballay, who leads the MAAC in goals (11) and points (24), has missed the last four games with a leg injury.  Iacono missed the last game with a hamstring injury and tried to play Saturday but reinjured it.

The Broncs defeated Siena 1-0 at Rider last year. Siena leads the all-time series 8-7-4. “Siena is a good team,” Hounsome said.  “It is always close when we play them. We could see them again in the playoffs.”

Rider returns home for the regular season finale Wednesday to host Monmouth at 7pm. Rider's four graduating seniors will be honored before the start of that game.

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