Women's College Soccer
Broncs in Title Game Sunday
WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ—The Rider University women's soccer team will play Fairfield University in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship Game Sunday at 3pm at Monmouth University.
Fairfield (14-4-2), the second seed (8-2 MAAC), was the MAAC runner-up last year and has won MAAC Titles in 2008, 2005, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1995 and 1993.
Rider, the third seed (5-3-2 MAAC), is seeking its first MAAC women's soccer title, having advanced to two other MAAC Championship Games, in 2004 and 2002.
The Broncs (12-5-2) played what seventh-year head coach Drayson Hounsome described as “Rider's best game in seven years,” on September 27, a 1-0 loss at Fairfield. Rider out-shot Fairfield 20-4 that night, “and we totally dominated play in every aspect except the final score.”
Rider has been led by the MAAC Player of the Year, junior Tara Ballay (Delran, NJ/Delran), First Team All-MAAC sophomore forward Michelle Iacono (Merrick, N.Y./Calhoun) and Second team All- MAAC goalkeeper, sophomore Bethany-May Howard (Glastonbury, England/Bridgwater College).
The Broncs defeated Fairfield 1-0 at Rider in 2013. It was Rider's first win over Fairfield since 2004 and just the fourth in 19 meetings.
This is the ninth time Rider has competed in the MAAC Championship Tournament in its 18 years in the conference. Rider is 8-7-1 in MAAC Tournament play, including 2-0 this year.
The championship game will be streamed live on MAAC.TV.
The winner of Sunday's game will be one of 64 teams to advance to the NCAA Championship tournament.
The NCAA selection show will be streamed at 4:30pm on Monday and should Rider win the MAAC Title, links will be provided on GoBroncs.com.
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