Box Score Women's College
Monmouth University 2, Rider University 1
WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ-- The Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game to first place Monmouth Wednesday night. “We showed a lot of good character,” said Rider head coach Drayson Hounsome. “It was a solid performance.”
Monmouth (9-1-2, 5-0 MAAC) took a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute of play and went up 2-0 in the 57th minute. “We gave Monmouth a head start by giving up a goal after just 10 minutes,” Hounsome said. “We didn't track a runner and she was wide open. After that it was a close first half.”
Rider (6-5, 3-2 MAAC) cut the lead to 2-1 in the 60th minute of play when junior Hollie Kelsh (Lancashire, England/Sandbach) took a pass from sophomore Ellie Smith (Norwich, England/Norwich City) and scored her first goal of the season. Kelsh leads the MAAC in assists with six.
“We responded well to their second goal,” Hounsome said.
The MAAC Preseason favorite, Monmouth out-shot Rider 13-7.
Rider junior goalkeeper Bethany-May Howard (Glastonbury, England/Bridgwater College) made five saves. “Beth made a couple of great saves to keep it at 2-1,” Hounsome said.
Since Rider and Monmouth (and Saint Peter's) are all about an hour away from each other, the three-way rivalry between the New Jersey MAAC teams is called the hOURglass Rivalry. The spelling of hOURglass represents the fact that it is OUR rivalry.
Rider upset top-seeded and tournament host Monmouth last year in the MAAC semifinals on its way to the MAAC Title and the NCAA Tournament.
Monmouth leads the all-time series 10-3-3.
Rider hosts Siena Saturday.
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