Box Score Men's College Soccer
Rider University 4, Saint Joseph's University 0
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ— Saint Joseph's University has a slogan “Magis” which translates to “more” or “better” and refers to a philosophy of “doing more for others.”
On Monday night, it was Rider junior Christian Flath who was doing more for others. “I don't care if I get 10 goals or zero, as long as we win the game,” said Flath, a Preseason All-MAAC selection. “I like assists just as much as goals.”
Flath (Bargeshagen, Germany) scored a goal and set up two others to lead Rider to victory over Saint Joseph's Monday evening. “Christian is a steady player who gets a lot of points and he is so much more of an all-around player now,” said Rider head coach Charlie Inverso. “We're lucky to have him.”
Rider (1-0) took a 1-0 lead just 7:14 into the game when senior Justin Veltri (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) took a pass from sophomore Jose Aguinaga (Madrid, Spain) and scored his seventh career goal.
“We got off to a good start” Inverso said. “That first goal was a really good one. Veltri is a guy who I am really proud of. He works hard. He made a great run and Jose laid a great ball onto him.”
Sophomore Elliott Otmani (LaCiotat, France) also earned an assist on the play in his first game as a Bronc.
Senior Florian Valot (Monaco, France), the MAAC and ECAC Rookie of the Year last season, took a pass from Flath and scored in the 17th minute of play to give the Broncs a 2-0 lead. “It was a counter attack and I just saw a gap and played it to Flo,” Flath said.
It was the eighth goal in 19 games in a Rider uniform for Valot.
Flath, a two-time First Team All-MAAC selection, scored on a direct kick from 25 yards out to give the Broncs a 3-0 lead. Flath now has 16 goals and 13 assists for 45 points in just 37 Rider games.
Rider junior Zach Bond (Holmdel, NJ) took a pass from Flath and his shot was blocked but he got his own rebound to finish the scoring with 14 minutes left to play. “I passed Bond the ball and all he had to do was take the man on,” Flath said. “I tell him that all the time because he is so quick. Sometimes he doesn't do it but today he did and I'm glad he did.”
Rider out-shot St. Joseph's (0-2) 14-11, including 7-4 in shots on goal.
Rider junior goalkeeper David Pastuna (Robbinsville, NJ) made four saves in 75 minutes of work. Senior Ryan Baird (Plainfield, NJ/St. Peter's Prep) played the final 15 minutes in the Rider nets. “Dave had one really big save,” Inverso said, “and that pumps everyone up.”
The victory marked the third year in a row that the Broncs won the home opener and the third time in the last five years (2013, 2011) that the Broncs began the season 1-0. “It was a good start, for sure,” Inverso said.
Last year Rider had five games where the Broncs scored four or more goals and ended up leading the nation with 40 regular season goals. “We had a few of these games last year as well,” Inverso said. “Last year we tied St. Joe's so this was a nice step up.”
Saint Joseph's opened the season with a 3-2 overtime home loss to Marist on Friday night.
Last season the Hawks won seven games, the most since 2003, and return seven starters from last season.
The Hawks are picked to finish 11th (of 13) in the Atlantic-10.
Last year Rider and Saint Joseph's tied 1-1 at Saint Joseph's. The two teams have now met 39 times since the series began in 1963, with the Hawks holding a 20-13-6 advantage. Rider defeated Saint Joseph's the last time the Hawks visited Lawrenceville, 3-1 in 2013.
Rider was 6-2 on the Ben Cohen Field last year, the second straight season Rider won six home games.
Rider travels to Seton Hall Friday for a 7pm game. “Now we try to heal up and get ready for Seton Hall on Friday,” Inverso said.
Rider is 1-0 but wants to do “more”, to be “better”. Magis.
-ru-
