Women's College Soccer
Rider Announces 2014 Schedule
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ—Coming off a fourth straight winning season, which included a victory in the 2013 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship tournament and an unbeaten home record, Rider University head coach Drayson Hounsome has released his 2014 schedule.
“We are trying to play the best local teams we possibly can,” Hounsome said, “but it is easier said than done. Sometimes it is risky for specific teams with a high RPI to play good programs with a lower RPI.”
One of the best local teams will be Rider's opponent in the season opener, when the Broncs travel to East Orange, NJ to take on Seton Hall August 25. “Last year we played Seton Hall in our first preseason scrimmage and it was a great eye-opener for our young players who were not physically prepared for the nature of the game,” Hounsome said. “This season it will be an early measure of how that group has progressed over the last 12 months.”
Following the opener Rider has three consecutive home games, where the Broncs were 27-8-5 over the last five seasons. “Our three home games (Fairleigh Dickinson August 29, Bucknell August 31, Temple September 5) are tough games against two teams who got the better of us last year and Temple, who we just pipped 1-0 at their place,” Hounsome said. “We talk about creating an environment where we are very difficult to beat at home and we will be looking to continue the outstanding performances on Ben Cohen Field where we were unbeaten last year (6-0-1).”
Rider defeated FDU at Ben Cohen Field in 2012 but lost at FDU last year. “Two years ago we had a very experienced team and played them at home and were able to win the match in the last five minutes,” Hounsome remembered. “Last year we had a very young team and played them away in very hot conditions which led to some mental lapses defensively which allowed them to score and get the result.”
Bucknell defeated Rider 3-0 in the 2013 season opener. “Our preseason was very short last year so it will make a big difference in terms of our readiness and performance this year,” Hounsome said. “We were also incorporating nine freshmen into the lineup which takes time. Our performance will be more complete this year which will hopefully have a positive influence on the result.”
The MAAC season begins with a home game against Marist September 21. The Broncs lost at Marist last year but avenged that loss with a victory over the Red Foxes in the MAAC Championship Tournament.
After Marist Rider travels to perennial MAAC contender Fairfield September 27.
Eight is enough games in October, culminating with the regular season finale at home against defending champion Monmouth October 29th at 7pm.
“Monmouth and Fairfield will always take two of the playoff spots,” Hounsome predicted, “leaving everyone else to compete for four spots.”
The MAAC Championship tournament has expanded to six teams, now that there are 11 MAAC members. In the first round of the tournament, November 1, the third seed will host the sixth seed and the fourth seed will host the fifth. The two winners, along with the second seed, will travel to the site of the top seed for the semifinals and finals, November 7-9.
“We have been on both sides of the picture over the last couple of years,” Hounsome said of the new format. “We finished fourth and qualified for the 2010 tournament and we finished tied for fourth in 2012 and did not qualify. Providing a greater number of student-athletes with the opportunity to compete in postseason play is a good decision by the MAAC.”
August
Mon. 25 at Seton Hall 7pm, Fri. 29 FDU 5pm, Sun. 31 BUCKNELL 2pm
September
Fri. 5 TEMPLE 7pm, Sun. 7 at Wagner 1pm, Wed. 10 at Delaware State 7pm, Sun. 14 NJIT 3pm, Sun. 21 *MARIST 3pm, Sat. 27 at *Fairfield 7pm
October
Sat. 4 at *Iona 1pm, Wed. 8 *CANISIUS 4pm, Sat. 11 *QUINNIPIAC 1pm, Wed. 15 at *Niagara 4pm, Sat. 18 *MANHATTAN 1pm, Wed. 22 at *Saint Peter's 3pm, Sat. 25 at *Siena 1pm, Wed. 29 *MONMOUTH 7pm
November
Sat. 1 MAAC First Round, Fri. 7 MAAC semifinals, Sun. 9 MAAC Title Game
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