College Field Hockey
Rider University 4, Villanova University 3

VILLANOVA, Pa.—Behind three goals and an assist from junior Carlie Spaeder (Newtown Square, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara), the Rider University field hockey team snapped a two-game losing streak, winning 4-3 at Villanova on Sunday afternoon.

“It was a back and forth game,” said head coach Lori Hussong.  “Villanova played really hard and we were able to withstand the pressure.”

Spaeder opened the scoring for Rider (8-4) just 4:07 into the game, taking a pass from sophomore Melissa Cunningham (Oaklyn/Collingswood) and hitting the back of the cage for the one goal lead.

After Villanova (4-9) tied the game 1-1 just 2:26 later, Spaeder scored off a pass from freshman Jessica Randazzo (Media, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) with just over 10 minutes left in the opening half to give Rider its second lead of the game.

Spaeder completed the natural hat trick, knocking in her seventh goal of the season just five minutes later, off a rebound, to put the Broncs ahead 3-1 at intermission.

The Wildcats used a penalty stroke 12 minutes into the second half to cut Rider's lead to 3-2.  10 minutes after that goal, Spaeder was on the giving end of a pass to sophomore Allison Baligian (Flemington/Hunterdon Central) who scored her team-high ninth of the season to put the Broncs ahead by two goals with 13 minutes remaining.  Baligian had seven shots in the game with Spaeder recording a seven-point day.

“Carlie was calm and composed and her shots were right on target,” Hussong said.  “We are happy that she had a great game offensively.  That output was great to see.”

“I don't really remember each goal,” Spaeder said.  “It was really a team effort.  We really pulled things together and helped each other out.”

That last Bronc goal was key as Villanova scored an unassisted goal with 4:28 left, making it a one-goal margin for the final score.

“Offensively we played well,” Hussong added.  “Any day you can get four goals, that's a productive day from that unit.  We need to tighten down some of the mistakes on the defensive end of the field that are keeping teams in the game.  With that said, the defense stayed composed and helped get the job done.”

Senior goalie Joelle Prettyman (Newark, Del./St. Mark's) made seven saves.  Rider out-shot Villanova 19-14 with the Wildcats holding a 10-8 penalty corner advantage.

Rider and 'Nova have met 18 times since the series began in 1981 with the Broncs holding an 11-6-1 advantage, including winning the last six in a row.

Rider won at home against 'Nova 3-1 in 2014, with Spaeder scoring the final goal of the game.
Villanova and Rider met in 2013 when the Broncs scored with less than six minutes remaining in a 1-0 victory on Ben Cohen Field.  

Rider defeated Villanova 2-0 in Lawrenceville in 2012 and the Broncs defeated the Wildcats at Villanova 3-0 in 2011.  Rider defeated Villanova 2-1 in overtime during the 2010 season which at the time was the first Bronc win over the Wildcats since 1993 (1-0 in overtime). The Wildcats defeated Rider in 2008 at Villanova 1-0 on a corner at the end of regulation.

This was Rider's first hat trick since current assistant coach Sandra Penas had three goals and an assist (7 points) against Appalachian State on September 22, 2013 in Rider's 6-2 win.

Rider opens Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play against Fairfield University on Friday at 7pm on Ben Cohen Field.

“We ended non-conference with a pretty good record and we should be proud of that effort,” Spaeder said.  “MAAC play, we are really excited to take on the toughness that we will need in conference play.”

“We had a pretty successful non-conference segment to the season,” said Hussong.  “We are hoping to learn from our mistakes because in conference play, you always have to be at the top of your game.”

-RU-