College Field Hockey
Rider University 1, Georgetown University 0

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The digital media, film and television major could not have written a better script.  Junior Carlie Spaeder (Newtown Square, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) broke a scoreless tie with 16 seconds left in the game, giving the Rider University field hockey team a 1-0 win over Georgetown University on Sunday afternoon.

“We had the better of the play for the majority of the game,” said head coach Lori Hussong.  “We had a lot of chances to score but couldn't finish.  To Georgetown's credit, they were tough right until the end.”

Spaeder rebounded her own shot, her team-high sixth of the game and hit the back of the cage for the second time this season.

“Carlie's play was just a super hustle effort,” Hussong said.  “We just stayed after it and stayed after it and finally got a goal.”

“It wasn't me alone for the goal,” said Spaeder.  “I was just in the right place at the right time.  The team really worked together at the end to create the opportunity.”

A 42-game veteran, Spaeder now has nine career goals, three of which have been game-winners.

Rider (2-0) out-shot the Hoyas 22-6 and held a 15-4 penalty corner advantage but needed Spaeder's late game heroics after Georgetown (0-2) goalie Rachel Skonecki made 11 saves.

“Georgetown's goalie played well and that made things difficult,” Hussong added.

Spaeder almost scored in the opening minutes of the second half but hit the post after getting past the goalie on a breakaway.

“I just put that play out of my mind,” Spaeder said.  “I didn't want to dwell on it.  To be ready to help the team on the next play, you can't dwell over small stuff like that.  I knew we would continue to work together as a team to get the win.”

Bronc senior goalie Joelle Prettyman (Newark, Del./St. Mark's) recorded her eighth career shutout and her second of the season to remain perfect with a 0.00 goals against average.  Prettyman made one save on the day to pick up her 34th career win.

“Joelle and the whole defense is playing awesome,” Spaeder said.  “They are meshing well together and to know we have them back there, it brings us confidence.  We are really proud of Joelle and hope we can keep it up.”

Rider has won four of 10 games all-time against the Hoyas, including the last three in a row.  In 2013, the Broncs built a 4-0 lead in a 4-1 victory and in 2008, Rider won 2-1 in overtime.

“We are young but we are working hard and working together,” Hussong said about the 2-0 start.  “We are going to improve as we go, that's always been the goal and that's what we try to accomplish each time we go out on the field.”

Rider continues a four-game road trip with a trip to New York to face Columbia University on Friday, September 4 at 7:30pm.

The Broncs return home to Ben Cohen Field against La Salle University on September 13 at noon.

-RU-