Men's College Soccer

Marist College 2, Rider University 0

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ—On Men's Soccer Alumni Day, the undergraduates did not live up to the expectations of the graduates.

“We have one of the best alumni groups in the conference and I tell our guys all the time how proud the alums are of them and what they've been doing and how we've turned the program around,” said Rider head coach Charlie Inverso.  “It is extremely disappointing, almost to the point where I am apologetic to the fans who came today.”

Playing their third game in seven days, the Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game to Marist Saturday afternoon.

Marist (3-5, 1-0 MAAC) scored the only goal it would need on a rebound with just 39 seconds left in the first half. “There was a 30 minute stretch in the first half where we could not get anything going,” Inverso said.  “We looked like we were lacking a little bit of energy.”

With Rider (5-3, 0-1 MAAC) sending everyone forward, including senior goalkeeper Ryan Baird (Plainfield, NJ/St. Peter's Prep), Marist scored an open net goal with 1:17 left in the game.

Rider out-shot Marist 14-10, including 11-5 in the second half. “Obviously we were all over them in the second half,” Inverso said, “but sometimes that's not good enough.”

Baird made two saves.

The last time Marist defeated Rider was 2011.

Rider won 2-0 at Marist last year in the regular season finale, clinching third place and a playoff spot. The last two times the Red Foxes traveled to Rider the Broncs won 3-1 in 2013 and 2-0 in 2012. The Broncs hold a 12-11-1 advantage in the series that began in 1992 when Rider and Marist were Northeast Conference rivals.

The loss marks the first time in four years that the Broncs did not start with a 1-0 MAAC record.  “We now have to play like a desperate team from here on in,” Inverso said. 

Rider travels to Saint Peter's for a MAAC game Wednesday and then on to Iona Saturday, October 3.  “The next two games are going to be on the road and they are both really tough places to win,” Inverso said.  “We put ourselves in this position so now we have to find our way out.”

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