Women's College Soccer-MAAC Playoffs

Rider University 4, Niagara University 1

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ—The defending champions are heading back to the conference semifinals for the third straight year. “Our players are confident, they know they are the defending champions and they played like it,” said Rider head coach Drayson Hounsome.  “We're excited about being in the semifinals again.”

In the first round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship Tournament Rider, the fourth seed defeated Niagara, the fifth seed, Saturday evening.

Rider (10-6-1, 6-3-1 MAAC) took a 1-0 lead just before the first half ended. Sophomore Alanna McDougall (Valley Stream, N.Y. /Valley Stream North), who had just substituted into the game, took a pass from junior Caroline Healy (Dublin, Ireland/Alexandra College) and scored her second goal of the season.

Ten minutes into the second half Niagara (8-8-2, 6-4 MAAC) was called for a foul in the box and junior Heather Maierle (Wantagh, N.Y./Friends Academy), an All-MAAC defender, scored on the penalty kick for a 2-0 Bronc lead. “That was the changing point,” Hounsome said. “That goal settled things down a bit.”

The Purple Eagles cut the lead to 2-1 with a goal mid-way through the second half, the first goal Rider allowed on Ben Cohen Field all season.

With 20 minutes left in the second half junior Priscilla Santos (Glendora, Calif./Glendora) entered the game and three minutes later scored her first goal of the season for a 3-1 Rider lead. “They made me look like a coaching guru today, scoring as soon as I put them into the game,” Hounsome said.

Healy took a direct kick from junior Victoria Maley (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) and headed it through Niagara keeper Claire Feiertag for the final score. “Tori had a big game for us,” Hounsome said.

Maley also played a strong game on defense, marking Niagara star Haillie Price, who had 10 goals and 23 points in 14 games this year. “We don't really worry about players, we just play our game,” Maley said.  “Our defense had a strong game, as a team.”

Rider out-shot Niagara 12-10.

Rider junior goalkeeper Bethany-May Howard (Glastonbury, England) made one save, while Feiertag made three.

Rider will advance to the MAAC semifinals hosted by the regular season champion, Monmouth, November 6. Manhattan is the #2 seed and along with Monmouth advanced directly to the semifinals.  “No matter who we play it is going to take a lot of heart to win that game,” Maley said.  “It will be a grind.”

The other first round game, #3 Marist vs. #6 Siena, will be played Sunday at 2pm.

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