College Field Hockey
Quinnipiac University 3, Rider University 2 (O.T.)
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game

LAWRENCEVILLE—Quinnipiac University roared back from a two-goal deficit in the final 4:44 of regulation and scored the game-winner just 47 seconds into the first overtime as the Bobcats defeated Rider University 3-2, Friday afternoon on Ben Cohen Field in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game.

“The game was a winnable game,” said head coach Lori Hussong.  “We are making elementary mistakes and that cost us today.”

Junior Carlota Alsina (Barcelona, Spain) led Rider (9-6, 1-2 MAAC) with a goal and an assist.

Sophomore Melissa Cunningham (Oaklyn/Collingswood) gave the Broncs a 1-0 lead, with her third goal of the season, converting a pass from Alsina on a penalty corner in the 24th minute.

Just under five minutes later Alsina went across the left side of the goal and used a backhanded shot after a pass from senior Rachel Ippolite (Woolwich Twp./Kingsway Regional) beating the Quinnipiac goalie and that goal give the Broncs a 2-0 lead heading into intermission.  For Alsina, it was her fifth goal of the season.

Quinnipiac (7-9, 4-0 MAAC) pressured the Rider defense early and often in the second half as the Bobcats held a 12-2 shot advantage in the final 35:47 of play and Quinnipiac finally broke through, converting a Bronc turnover with 4:44 left in regulation.

Quinnipiac converted on a penalty corner at the end of regulation to force the overtime and the Bobcats used another Rider turnover at midfield to score 47 seconds into the seven on seven period and clinch a spot in the four-team conference playoffs November 6-8.

Quinnipiac out-shot Rider 13-10 after Rider dominated the opening half 8-1.

In a tale of two halves, Rider had a 7-6 advantage in penalty corners, 6-0 in the opening half with the Bobcats holding a 6-1 advantage in the second period.

Senior goalie Joelle Prettyman (Newark, Del./St. Mark's) made six saves for Rider.

Rider and Quinnipiac last met in Hamden, Connecticut on October 24, 2014 with Rider scoring, 5:41 into the first overtime period in a come from behind 2-1 win.

Rider has won 18 of the 30 meetings all-time against Quinnipiac, dating back to 1998.

Rider defeated Quinnipiac 2-1 in 2013 on Ben Cohen Field in Lawrenceville on a goal with 3:01 left as the Broncs also rallied from a one-goal deficit in that game.

Rider and Quinnipiac met during the 2012 regular season with the Bobcats giving Rider its only conference loss of the season, 3-2 in Hamden.  The Broncs gained revenge by defeating the Bobcats 4-1 in the conference semifinals.

Almost 500 fans packed Ben Cohen Field for Code Cranberry.

Code Cranberry is an initiative designed to express a unified show of support among varsity athletes at Rider University.

There is a slogan among Rider athletes, that there are 380 athletes, 20 sports but 1 team. Rider SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Council), SAM (Student-Athlete Mentors) and members of the Captains' Leadership Seminar took that slogan and expanded it to create Code Cranberry.

On designated Code Cranberry dates, all varsity student-athletes are asked to come out to the contest, wearing their Code Cranberry tee shirt, and cheer on their fellow student-athletes in an effort to show that while they compete in different sports, they are all part of one team, and that team is Rider Athletics.

Code Cranberry.  When 380 student-athletes from 20 sports come together to support one team.  Rider Athletics.

This was the first home loss for Rider this season and only the sixth time in 46 games that the field hockey team has lost on Ben Cohen Field.

Rider hosts Sacred Heart University in the final home game of the regular season on Sunday.

Prior to the game against the Pioneers, the Broncs will honor the graduating seniors, Melyssa Alonso, Rachel Ippolite and Joelle Prettyman.

-RU-