Box Score Women's College Soccer
Rider University 1, Niagara University 0
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ—The Broncs defeated Niagara in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game Wednesday afternoon. “Obviously I am really happy about the three points (for a win),” said Rider head coach Drayson Hounsome, “against a Niagara team that has lost the least amount of conference games over the last two years.”
With the win, Rider (8-5, 5-2 MAAC) remains undefeated (5-0) and unscored upon at home. “Five home games, five wins, five shutouts,” Hounsome said. “Nobody has scored on this field yet, which will be remarkable.”
The Broncs scored the only goal of the game in the 19th minute of play when freshman Meghan McCabe (Massapequa Park, NY/Massapequa) scored on a header on a corner kick from junior Hollie Kelsh (Lancashire, England/Sandbach).
For McCabe, it was her fourth goal and her second game in a row with a goal on a corner. “Almost an identical goal as the one she got against Siena (2-0 win),” Hounsome said. “It is hard to defend Meghan coming in like that because she is so strong in the air.”
For Kelsh, it was her eighth assist of the season, most in the MAAC, and the 13th assist of her career. Kelsh entered the game ranked 14th in the nation in assists per game. “That really hasn't been by design,” Kelsh said. “It's just the way it has worked out. I give credit to the people who have gotten on the end of the ball and scored the goals.”
“When the delivery is right these set pieces work,” Hounsome said. “Hollie is one of the most consistent players in the MAAC. We know she can put the ball where she wants it to be time and time again. And that's the key on set pieces.”
“Meghan's goal was really good,” Kelsh said. “We've been working on set pieces from the corner. I got it in and she had a bullet of a header.”
Niagara (6-5-2, 4-2 MAAC) out-shot Rider 14-4, including 3-2 in shots on goal. “It was a tough game but we really worked hard and we showed a character that we saw last year when we won the Championship,” Hounsome said.
Rider junior goalkeeper Bethany-May Howard (Glastonbury, England/Bridgwater College) made three saves for the shutout, her seventh of the season and 13th in two years as a starter. The seven shutouts in a season ties the team record set in 2010 and is a new record for one goalie, breaking the record of six held by several people, including Howard last year.
“Beth really didn't have too much to do today,” Hounsome said, “but that's a sign of a good keeper, when they only have to make one or two saves and they make them.”
Howard entered the game ranked 12th in the nation in saves per game and 15th in the nation in save percentage.
Rider lost 2-1 at Niagara last year. The last time the Purple Eagles came to Rider the game ended in a 1-1 tie. The last time Rider beat Niagara was during the 2012 season. “Most of our players had never beaten Niagara,” Hounsome said, “so this was a really pleasing result.”
Niagara holds an 11-7-1 advantage in the series.
Rider travels to Manhattan Saturday for a 1pm game. “Manhattan was ahead of us in the standings going into today,” Hounsome said. “That will be a big game.”
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