College Field Hockey – MAAC Semifinals
#2 Quinnipiac University 3, #3 Rider University 2

WEST LONG BRANCH—The Rider University field hockey season came to an end in dramatic fashion with Quinnipiac University scoring with no time remaining on a penalty corner for a 3-2 victory in the semifinals of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference playoffs.

“This was a tough game,” said head coach Lori Hussong.  “We played really, really well except for the last 10 seconds.  We had our chances and didn't cash in on them.  Quinnipiac has shown all season that they are going to come back strong and fight to the end and today was no different.”

Savanna Reilly scored the game-winner at the 70:00 mark of regulation.

Rider freshman Angie Price (Sydney, Australia) tied the game 2-2 on a tip in the circle off a long pass from senior Rachel Ippolite (Woolwich Twp./Kingsway Regional) with 19:39 left in the second half.  For Price it was her sixth goal of the season and for Ippolite it was her fourth assist of the season.

“Rachel played her best game of the season,” Hussong said.  Her and senior Melyssa Alonso (Toms River/Toms River HS North) gave everything they possibly could.”

Ippolite and Alonso earned a spot on the All-Tournament team.

Quinnipiac scored on a run down the right side of the field and pass to the middle with 23:36 remaining in the second half to take a 2-1 lead.

Rider (12-7) opened the scoring 15:25 into the game when sophomore Shannon Hughes (South Plainsfield) scored her fourth goal of the season, rebounding a shot from junior All-MAAC First Team honoree Carlota Alsina (Barcelona, Spain) on a penalty corner.

Quinnipiac (9-10) responded just under five minutes later on a penalty corner of their own to tie the score 1-1 with 14:51 remaining before intermission.

The game was tied 1-1 at the half.

Playing in her final collegiate game, senior goalie Joelle Prettyman (Newark, Del./St. Mark's) made four saves.  Rider held a 14-11 advantage in shots with Quinnipiac holding a 10-7 penalty corner advantage.

Rider lost to Quinnipiac 3-2 in overtime on October 23 at Ben Cohen Field, a game that saw the Broncs give up a two-goal lead in the final 4:44 of regulation before losing 47 seconds into the seven vs. seven session.

Rider is now 18-13 all-time against Quinnipiac including 5-3 in playoff games.

This was Rider's 16th straight season qualifying for the conference playoffs, including the last three as a member of the MAAC.  This marks only the third time in those 16 seasons that Rider has not advanced to the conference finals.

In the opening semifinal, fourth seeded Fairfield University upset top seed Monmouth University 2-1 to advance to Sunday's championship game at 11am.

Rider returns 20 letterwinners for the 2016 season.

-RU-