Box Score Women's College Soccer
Rider University 2, NJIT 1 (2OT)
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ—On many fire alarms there are signs that read: “In case of emergency, break glass.”
When it comes to Rider women's soccer, “in case of overtime, give the ball to Michelle Iacono.”
Rider sophomore Michelle Iacono (Merrick, N.Y./Calhoun) scored in overtime to give Rider the win over the New Jersey Institute of Technology Sunday afternoon. It was her second overtime, game-winning goal of the season.
“I think we are going to keep her out the first 90 minutes and just put her in the game in overtime,” said Rider head coach Drayson Hounsome.
“I hope he is kidding,” Iacono said. “I'm getting opportunities during the game but haven't been able to capitalize on it except for the two overtime goals.”
“Mitch had a lot of great chances,” Hounsome said. Iacono had 11 shots Sunday, six on goal. “We want her to shoot,” Hounsome said.
Iacono set up junior Tara Ballay (Delran, NJ/Delran) with the first goal of the game in the 16th minute of play. It was Ballay's sixth goal of the season. Ballay hit both goal posts in the first few minutes of the game. “When you hit the post like that you sometimes feel it is going to be one of those days,” Hounsome said. “Tara had an awesome game.” Ballay had 10 of Rider's 36 shots.
NJIT (2-7) tied the score with 17 minutes left in regulation.
On the game winning goal, Iacono had a 'give-and-go' with freshman Ellie Smith (Norwich, England/Norwich City) before scoring her second game-winner of the season, both coming in overtime. “I played Ellie in on a ball and was hoping she would score,” Iacono said. “She cut back so I went middle for her and she passed it.”
Rider (5-2) out-shot NJIT 36-5. Rider had eight corner kicks while NJIT did not have one corner. “That is one of the big learning points we want to take from today's game,” Hounsome said. “Sometimes you can get frustrated when you dominate play but not the score. We were able to keep our composure today.'
Rider sophomore goalkeeper Bethany-May Howard (Glastonbury, England/Bridgwater College) made two saves.
NJIT defeated Rider 2-0 last year in Newark. “It is pleasing for us to turn that result around,” Hounsome said.
Rider and NJIT have now met six times, with Rider holding a 4-2 advantage in the series that began in 2009. The last time NJIT traveled to Rider the Broncs won 1-0 in overtime on a goal by Ballay in her collegiate debut.
Rider begins MAAC play Sunday, hosting Marist at 3pm. “The non-conference is over,” Hounsome said. “I'm very pleased with how we did in non-conference,” said Iacono, a Preseason All-MAAC selection. “We worked hard and I think we are ready for MAAC play.”
-ru-
