Box Score Women's College Soccer
Rider University 5, Canisius College 0
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ—Hat Trick. Hockey fans believe it is a hockey term for three goals in a game. Soccer fans believe it is a soccer term for three goals in a game. However, the term was first used in 1858 in a cricket match to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets with three consecutive deliveries. A collection was taken up for Stephenson to reward him for his outstanding accomplishment, and he was presented with a hat bought with the proceeds.
Junior Tara Ballay (Delran, NJ/Delran) scored a hat trick, three goals, to lead Rider to a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory over Canisius Wednesday afternoon. “Tara is playing great,” said Rider head coach Drayson Hounsome. “To score three goals in a conference game is quite a feat. She is playing with confidence. As a coach she is doing everything you want her to do.”
It was her first hat trick and the fourth multi-goal game of her career. “My teammates played some great balls in to me,” Ballay said. “They set me up great.”
With the win the Broncs (7-3-1, 2-1-1 MAAC) are now 5-1-1 in their last seven games. “We're playing very well right now,” Hounsome said.
The five goals is a season high. The last time Rider scored five goals in a game was a 6-2 win over Saint Peter's in 2012. “It was good to get a strong performance offensively,” Hounsome said. “We've been threatening to do that against a few teams. We got that early goal and just went from there.”
Rider took a 1-0 lead just one minute into the game on a goal by Ballay. Ballay received a pass from freshman Ellie Smith (Norwich, England/Norwich City) in her own half of the field and dribbled 50 yards through several defenders before scoring from 15 yards out.
Rider freshman Carissa Sanchez (Miami, Fla. /Archbishop McCarthy) scored her first collegiate goal to make it 2-0 just 10:36 into the game.
Rider sophomore Michelle Iacono (Merrick, N.Y./Calhoun) had her shot saved but she gathered her own rebound and scored her fourth goal of the season to give Rider a 3-0 lead.
Ballay scored her ninth and 10th goals of the season to give the Broncs a 5-0 lead at the half before emptying the bench.
Rider out-shot Canisius (3-11, 2-3 MAAC) 16-7, including 11-1 in the first half.
Rider sophomore Bethany-May Howard (Glastonbury, England/Bridgwater College), the MAAC Defensive Player of the Week last week for the second time this year, compiled four saves for her fourth shutout.
The Broncs lost 2-1 at Canisius last year. The last time Canisius came to Lawrenceville the Broncs won 3-0. “When we play well we're a good team,” Hounsome said.
Rider and Canisius have met 20 times with the Golden Griffins holding a 10-9-1 advantage in the series. Rider is just 3-5 against Canisius in the last eight meetings, however.
Rider hosts Quinnipiac Saturday at 1pm. “Quinnipiac beat us last year, just as Canisius did,” Hounsome said. “I think it will be a tough game. If we can get another performance like this it will be fun.”
-ru-
