College Field Hockey
Rider University 3, Lehigh University 0

LAWRENCEVILLE—Behind a goal and assist from junior Carlota Alsina (Barcelona Spain) and a shutout from senior Joelle Prettyman (Newark, Del./St. Mark's), the Rider University field hockey team won 3-0 on Friday evening on Ben Cohen Field in the 2015 season opener for both squads.

“I was really happy with each and every player,” said head coach Lori Hussong, in her 16th season at Rider.  “We are coming along and get better and better each time on the field.”

Sophomore Allison Baligian (Flemington/Hunterdon Central) opened the scoring with a penalty stroke 12:09 into the game, giving the Broncs a 1-0 lead.  Baligian had a team-high five shots for the Broncs.

Rider led 1-0 at intermission.

Alsina used a pass from sophomore Melissa Cunningham (Oaklyn/Collingswood) on a penalty corner to give Rider (1-0) a two-goal advantage with just under seven minutes remaining in the game and junior Carlie Spaeder (Newtown Square, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) received the ball from Alsina on another penalty corner, hitting the back of the cage with 1:31 left for the final score.

Rider held a 14-8 advantage on penalty corners, including 9-2 in the second half.

A Preseason All-MAAC honoree, Prettyman recorded two saves as Rider out-shot the Mountain Hawks 19-7.  Prettyman now has 33 career wins and recorded her seventh shutout.

“Joelle getting the shutout is huge for the confidence of the defense,” Hussong said.  “The defense played really tough, especially senior Melyssa Alonso (Toms River/Toms River HS North).”

“The game went pretty well,” Alonso said.  “We came out a little slow but then we really picked it up.  Joelle played awesome tonight.  We are her soldiers on defense and we do what she says.”

Julia Ward recorded 13 saves for Lehigh (0-1).

Also for the Broncs, sophomore Kesheal Henderson (Heath, Mass./Mohawk Regional) recorded a clutch defensive save late in the first half to preserve Rider's one-goal lead, her second defensive of the game.

The teams last met on October 6, 2013 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania when Rider won 3-2.  In that game, Prettyman made eight saves and Alsina assisted on the opening goal.  Rider is 19-16-1 all-time against the Mountain Hawks, having won six straight in the series dating back to 2007.

Rider has won three straight times on opening day, including a 1-0 win over Missouri State in 2014 and a victory at Colgate by a 3-2 score in 2013.  The Broncs also won three straight opening day games from 2009-2011.

Rider travels to Washington, D.C., for the first of four straight road games, beginning with a contest against Georgetown University on Sunday at noon.  Rider is home again on September 13 against La Salle University.