Box Score Men's College Soccer-MAAC Quarterfinals
Rider University 3, Quinnipiac College 0
ORLANDO, FLORIDA, --The Rider University men's soccer team, the second seed in the 11-team Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship Tournament, advanced to the semifinals with a victory over Quinnipiac Friday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
“I think Quinnipiac is a really good team,” said Rider head coach Charlie Inverso. “They've played some big time schools this year."
Rider (12-5-1, 6-3-1 MAAC) will now play #6 Siena in the semifinals Sunday at 2pm on ESPN3.
The 2015 Broncs were led on Friday by a pair of 2014 First Team All-MAAC selections, senor Sonimi Halliday (Sicklerville, NJ/Timber Creek) and junior Christian Flath (Bargeshagen, Germany).
“We said at halftime that getting that first goal was going to be the key to the game,” Inverso said.
Following a scoreless first half, junior Adrien Huss (Madrid, Spain) took a direct kick and Halliday got on the end of it, scoring from in close for the 1-0 Rider lead just 1:04 into the second half. “Sonimi steps up, like he has done his whole career,” Inverso said. “He steps up at a big time and that is why he is such an important guy on our team.”
Flath scored from 35 yards out on a direct kick to give Rider a 2-0 lead in the 57th minute. “Christian had another great free kick,” Inverso said.
Flath leads the MAAC in goals per game and points per game, compiling a team-high eight goals and 20 points in just 12 games. Flath is a two-time First Team All-MAAC selection and is a Preseason All-MAAC pick this year. Flath has 23 goals and 16 assists for 62 points in just 48 career games.
Rider senior Rory Duffy (Plainfield, NJ/St. Peter's Prep) scored his first goal of the season with 11 minutes remaining on an assist from junior Zach Bond (Holmdel, NJ) for a 3-0 Bronc lead. “Bond slipped Rory a beautiful pass and Rory tucked it away,” Inverso said.
Rider senior goalkeeper Ryan Baird (Plainfield, NJ/St. Peter's Prep) made four saves for the shutout, his fifth. Baird has a 9-2 record in the Rider net. He has made 49 saves while allowing 13 goals in 12 games.
Rider out-shot #10 Quinnipiac 13-10, including 8-4 in shots on goal. Rider recently defeated Quinnipiac 2-0 in the regular season finale October 31.
The Broncs are now 7-1-1 in their last nine games.
The 12 wins this year is the most for Rider since finishing the 1998 season in the NCAA Tournament with 13 wins.
Following a Saturday off for Disney, the Broncs will have Semifinal Sunday vs. Siena. “Siena is a good team,” Inverso said. Rider won at Siena in overtime this year. “We were fortunate to come away with a win up there. We're going to enjoy this for about 24 hours and then start preparing for that.
This is Rider's tenth MAAC Championship Tournament in the 19 years in the conference. Rider is now 9-7-1 in MAAC postseason play.
The MAAC Championship Game is 12 noon on Monday, November 9. Rider has reached the MAAC Title Game three times, winning it twice.
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