College Field Hockey
Rider University 3, Bryant University 2
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game

LAWRENCEVILLE—Led by two goals from sophomore Carlota Alsina (Barcelona, Spain), the Rider University field hockey team defeated Bryant University 3-2 in come from behind fashion on Friday afternoon on Ben Cohen Field.

“This has been a hard season with the conference being so tight,” said head coach Lori Hussong.  “I am just really proud of our team and their comeback ability.  When they get down, they set tougher and we are really proud of the effort today.”

With the win, Rider (10-7, 3-1 MAAC) clinched a conference playoff berth for the 15th straight season, all under Hussong and the Broncs improved to 6-1 at home in 2014.

“We were coming off a painful loss at Sacred Heart last Sunday,” said Alsina.  “Today, we came together and we were really excited about the game.  It's always more motivating playing at home and we played well together.”

Alsina scored her fourth goal of the season, dribbling in after receiving a pass from senior Dezarae Fillmyer (Roebling/Florence) on a corner to give the Broncs a 3-2 lead with 21:28 remaining in the game for the final score.  Fillmyer now has four assists on the season and leads the team with 16 points.

“Carlota created a lot of scoring opportunities for us,” Hussong said.  “When we moved her from the midfield to the front, we needed someone who was going to put the ball in the circle and be dangerous for us.”

Trailing 2-1, Rider tied the game just 2:11 into the second half when senior Laura McCormick (West Windsor/West Windsor-Plainsboro South) reached through the goalie and tipped a dump in hit from sophomore Kalyn O'Brien (Southampton/Seneca), for her third goal of the season.

“Laura struggled all season with injuries,” Hussong said.  “She came alive in the second half and moved the ball well.  She created a lot of scoring opportunities.  Any time she gets the ball in the circle, it has a chance to go in.”

“When we were down it didn't scare us at all,” said McCormick.  “We knew we had the ability to come right back.”

“We had possession most of the time,” Alsina said about being down a goal.  “There is always pressure when you are losing but once you tie it up, you get more motivated.”

Alsina gave Rider a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute, hitting a shot from the top of the circle, with freshman Shannon Hughes (South Plainfield) and Fillmyer picking up the assists on the corner play. 

Bryant (4-12, 1-3 MAAC) tied the score less than four minutes later on a rebound after a defensive save by senior Stacey Dileo (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Warde) and the Bulldogs scored on a penalty stroke, taking a 2-1 lead with 3:58 left in the opening half.

Dileo now has six defensive saves on the season.

Bryant led by one at intermission.

Rider out-shot Bryant 14-10 and the Broncs held a 7-5 penalty corner advantage.

“Junior Rachel Ippolite (Woolwich Twp./Kingsway Regional) also had an excellent game for us with her passing down the field,” Hussong added.  “It was her best game of the season and it was much needed.”

Junior goalie Joelle Prettyman (Newark, Del./St. Mark's) made five saves to pick up her ninth win of the season.

Rider has won seven of 12 games decided by one goal this season.

Last season, the teams met in Smithfield, Rhode Island with the Bulldogs winning 2-1 in a shootout, the only time in seven tries that Bryant has won over Rider.

With Quinnipiac defeating first place Sacred Heart 1-0 on Friday, Rider clinched a playoff berth in the four-team conference tournament. 

Rider will host Siena on Sunday and honor Dileo, Fillmyer and McCormick, prior to the game at 11:45am.

“This year more than ever, each has stepped up more than ever and they each lead in their own way and they have grown into not only great leaders but great people as well.  It's nice to see them finish out on top the way they are.”

“We knew the season would be a challenge,” McCormick said about the youth of the squad and the senior leadership.  “The whole team has stepped up big time.  It's going to be an emotional day but it will be great as well.”

With a win on Sunday against the Saints, Rider will earn at least a share of its sixth straight conference regular season title (4 NEC, 2 MAAC) in a row and the Broncs will host the four-team conference tournament November 7-9.

“It's a huge goal for us this year to host the conference tournament,” McCormick said.  “We play our best at home.”

“Sunday is going to be a tough game,” Alsina said.  “We are not only playing for the conference title but for the three seniors as well.”

“We need to stay focused for Sunday,” Hussong said.  “All of our goals come off hustle and determination.  We need to execute on our corners and play tough defense.  Siena is on the verge of defeating someone.  They have been in all their games and we expect that they will come in and give us stiff competition.”

-RU-