College Field Hockey
Rider University 6, Colgate University 1

HAMILTON, N.Y.—The Rider University field hockey team won for the third time in four games, defeating Colgate University 6-1 in a non-conference contest on Sunday afternoon, led by two goals from sophomore Allison Baligian (Flemington/Hunterdon Central).

“It was great to bounce back from our loss last weekend at Saint Francis (Pa.),” said head coach Lori Hussong.  “It was good to see so many players contribute on the field to a great win.”

Rider (7-2) scored three times over a span of 3:22 in the opening half.

Baligian opened the scoring off an assist from junior Carlie Spaeder (Newtown Square, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) 16:58 into the game on a shot from the middle of the circle, for her team-leading seventh goal of the season.

“It was good to see Allison back in the scoring column,” Hussong said.  “She has been working hard to contribute and it was great to see that work pay off.”

Sophomore Shannon Hughes (South Plainfield) rebounded a shot just inside the left post to give the Broncs a 2-0 lead at 18:29 and junior Carlota Alsina (Barcelona, Spain) scored just under two minutes later on a backhanded shot to give Rider a three-goal lead, which the Broncs took into intermission.

Baligian scored her second of the game and eighth of the season on a penalty stroke with 21:05 remaining and freshman Angie Price (Sydney, Australia) scored her fifth of the season off an assist from sophomore Lauren Bock (Freehold/Freehold Boro) with 13:41 left to give the Broncs a five-goal advantage.  Baligian is now three for three on penalty strokes this season.

After the Raiders scored with 12:49 left to break the shutout, Bock deflected a shot from Spaeder and hit the back of the cage with 11:37 remaining for the final score, notching the first goal of her career.

“Lauren gave us some great minutes off the bench,” Hussong added.  “She played hungry and aggressive and added a great spark to our attack.”

Rider held a 27-5 shot advantage, including 15-3 in the opening half and the Broncs had a 17-1 penalty corner advantage.

Senior goalie Joelle Prettyman (Newark, Del./St. Mark's) played 54:10 and made two saves for her sixth win of the season and 38th of her career.

This was the 23rd meeting in the series with Rider winning for the fifth time in a row.

Colgate leads the all-time series 12-11.  The teams met last season in Lawrenceville with the Broncs winning 3-1 after scoring three unanswered goals.  Rider and Colgate met in the 2013 season opener, also in Lawrenceville when the Broncs also rallied from a 1-0 deficit to win 3-2.  Rider defeated Colgate 5-1 in 2012 in Lawrenceville and the Broncs won 5-0 in 2010 in their first game on Ben Cohen Field.  The Broncs defeated Colgate in Hamilton, New York by a 3-1 score in 2009.  Colgate last defeated Rider, playing a neutral site game in West Long Branch in 2008 by a 3-1 score.

Rider won for the fourth time on the road this season and the Broncs continue a five-game road trip, traveling to Lock Haven University on October 2 before facing Drexel University October 4.

“Overall, I was very happy with our play,” Hussong said.  “We will continue to work hard this week to improve and be ready to face two tough opponents in Lock Haven and Drexel next weekend.”

The Broncs return home on October 16 for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener at 7pm against Fairfield University on Ben Cohen Field.

-RU-