Women's College Soccer

Fairfield University 1, Rider University 0

FAIRFIELD, CT—Turnabout is fair play.

Last year Rider defeated Fairfield despite being out-played.  Saturday evening, Rider suffered what it caused Fairfield to suffer last year.

Despite dominating play, the Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game at Fairfield Saturday evening. “We were excellent tonight,” said Rider head coach Drayson Hounsome.  “Probably the best performance I've seen us play in seven years.”

Fairfield (7-2-1, 1-0 MAAC) scored with three minutes left in the second half for the only goal of the game.          

Rider (5-3-1, 0-1-1 MAAC) out-shot Fairfield 20-4. “We absolutely destroyed them in every element on the field,” Hounsome said.  “Luck was not on our side. We hit the crossbar three times.”

Rider sophomore goalkeeper Bethany-May Howard (Glastonbury, England/Bridgwater College) made one save.

Coach Hounsome was hard-pressed to find a star of the game. “We didn't make many subs (two) because everyone on the field played so well,” Hounsome said. 'We had an outstanding week of practice and some players who had a great week of practice could not step on the field because the starters were playing out of their skin.”

The Stags are unbeaten in their last 18 home games.

Rider has never won at Fairfield. “When we play as well as we did tonight it makes you so proud,” Hounsome said.  “Last year we won but they out-played us in that game.”

Rider defeated Fairfield 1-0 in overtime last year. It was the first win for Rider over Fairfield since 2004 and just the fourth win ever for the Broncs over the Stags in 19 meetings.

Rider plays a MAAC game at Iona next Saturday, October 4.

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