Men's College Soccer

Rider University 5, LIU Brooklyn 2

BROOKLYN, NY— Liu Ji was known for his prophecies in the 1300s. LIU Brooklyn could not have predicted what the Blackbirds were in store for on Wednesday night.

“Traditionally this field has low scoring games,” said Rider head coach Charlie Inverso.  “It is a small field and it is tight. We planned on a low scoring game. No one would have predicted this kind of game.”

Rider sophomore Christian Flath (Bargeshagen, Germany) had two goals and an assist to lead Rider to its first victory of the season, defeating LIU Brooklyn Wednesday night.

“The first goal was an important one,” Inverso said, “then he came back and got another one off of a free kick, then he hit the post with a bullet. He had a good day.”

A First Team All-MAAC selection as the MAAC Rookie of the Year last year, Flath scored in the 21st minute to give Rider a 1-0 lead and came back less than two minutes later to score again.

Rider senior Ryan Walsh (Chesterfield, NJ/Northern Burlington Regional) scored in the 30th minute to give Rider a 3-0 lead on an assist by sophomore Rob Nardiello (Torquay, England).  “Walsh was his usual gutty self,” Inverso said, “so it was nice to see him get rewarded with a goal.”

Rider junior Sonimi Halliday (Sicklerville, NJ/Timber Creek) scored on a header off of an assist by Flath to give Rider a 4-2 lead. Halliday was a Second Team All-MAAC selection last year.

Rider sophomore Warren Holmes (Stoke on Trent, England) scored to give Rider a 5-2 lead. “Warren iced it with a nice goal off of a corner,” Inverso said. Holmes was a member of the MAAC All-Rookie Team last year as a defender.

The Blackbirds cut the lead to 3-1 with 13 minutes left in the first half and cut the lead to 3-2 on a penalty kick eight minutes into the second half. “We held our composure well after the questionable PK call,” Inverso said.”Sonimi stepped up big and got a nice goal on the corner kick,” Inverso said.

Rider sophomore goalkeeper David Pastuna (Robbinsville, NJ) made five saves.

Rider (1-1-1) out-shot LIU Brooklyn (0-4) 16-14, including 12-8 in shots on goal.  “It was a good showing and it was good to get a win,” Inverso said. “We created a lot of chances so that was a good sign.”

Rider defeated LIU Brooklyn 1-0 last season in double overtime. The last four meetings were all decided by a 1-0 final score.

Rider and LIU Brooklyn are former Northeast Conference rivals. Rider holds a 9-4 advantage in the series that began in 1933. LIU won three consecutive meetings with Rider before the Broncs won last year.

Rider plays the home opener Sunday at 12 noon against Bryant. It will also be Alumni Day. “I'm not sure if we'll recognize the field,” Inverso said after playing the first three games and two exhibition games all on the road.  

Inverso imitating Liu Ji, made a prediction about Sunday.  “It will be nice to get home and we're expecting a big crowd with the Alumni coming back.”

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