Men's College Soccer

Rider University 1, Saint Joseph's University 1 (2OT)

PHILADLEPHIA, PA—Rider junior Justin Veltri (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) scored with 13 minutes remaining in the second half to tie the score, as the Broncs tied Saint Joseph's Friday night. “We played the kind of soccer we want to play,” said Rider head coach Charlie Inverso, “so there were a lot more positives after tonight's game. We fought hard to come back.”

Rider (0-1-1) out-shot St. Joe's (1-1-1) 19-15, including 11-2 in the scoreless first half. “We completely dominated the first half,” Inverso said.  “We created lots of chances but their keeper made some good saves.”

The Broncs had 12 corner kicks to just four for the Hawks. “We did what we wanted to do, but we couldn't finish,” Inverso said.

Saint Joseph's took a 1-0 lead 12 minutes into the second half. “They scored a good goal on a counter,” Inverso said.

Veltri scored his third career goal and first of the season just seconds after re-entering the game as a substitute. “That is what I had in mind, that is what I told him to do when I sent him in,” Inverso joked. “Veltri hustled, ran down a ball, dug it out and scored a good goal. It was a fortunate substitution.”

Rider sophomore goalie David Pastuna (Robbinsville, NJ) made four saves. “Dave did not have too much to do tonight,” Inverso said.  “The defense of (sophomore) Warren Holmes (Stoke on Trent, England) and (senior) Justin Gregory (Wall, NJ/Brookdale CC) was really good tonight.”

Saint Joseph's began the season with a 1-0 victory over St. Francis NY before losing 1-0 to Army.

Rider defeated Saint Joseph's 3-1 last year in Lawrenceville. 

The Hawks hold a 20-15-6 advantage in the series with Rider that began in 1963.  The two teams were East Coast Conference rivals in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Rider travels to LIU Brooklyn Wednesday for a 6pm game. “The road is a tough place,” Inverso said, “but it is only going to make us better in the long run.”

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