College Field Hockey
Rider University 6, University of Vermont 1

BURLINGTON, Vt.—Behind the highest offensive output in over three seasons, the Rider University field hockey team improved to 4-0 in 2015 with a 6-1 win at the University of Vermont on Sunday afternoon.

“The score did not indicate how tough a game this was,” said head coach Lori Hussong who saw her squad win for the third time on the road this season.  “Vermont is a tough and skilled team.  We just cashed in on our opportunities.  We've focused on taking advantage of the chances that we are getting.”

For the second game in a row, sophomore Allison Baligian (Flemington/Hunterdon Central) and freshman Angie Price (Sydney, Australia/Clifton College) each scored twice to help the Broncs match their best start since the 2013 season.

“Angie is playing on her main surface and she is enjoying it,” Hussong said.  “She is playing with confidence and is adjusting to the American style of game.  She is playing tougher and is letting her natural skills take over.”

Baligian got Rider on the board just 1:14 into the game with junior Carlota Alsina (Barcelona, Spain/Institut Matadepera) picking up the assist and Baligian scored again six minutes before the half with junior Carlie Spaeder (Newtown Square, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) picking up the assist.

“Between Allison and Carlie coming down the field, the two of them have both been playing with tenacity,” Hussong said.  “Carlie especially is creating so many opportunities getting the ball up the field.”

Baligian leads Rider with five goals on the season.

Spaeder again factored in the scoring column with Price hitting the back of the cage to give the Broncs a three-goal lead with 52 seconds left before intermission.

The Price was right again with the Rider rookie scoring her fourth goal of the weekend on a pass from senior Rachel Ippolite (Woolwich Twp./Kingsway Regional), just 2:30 into the second half.  For Price it was her fourth goal of the season.

“We made plays and had a lot of scoring opportunities from many different players,” said team captain Ippolite who is a 65-game veteran.  “It was great for everyone to have a part in the scoring.  It is important for the offense that everyone gets in on the plays and it makes it a lot more fun when everyone has a part in that.  When we all share the effort, it makes for a good team win.”

After Vermont got within 4-1, Alsina scored her second goal of the season with Ippolite picking up her second assist of the game, giving the Broncs a four-goal lead with 6:17 left in the game.

“Rachel had a solid game and so did Carlota,” Hussong added.

Sophomore Kesheal Henderson (Heath, Mass./Mohawk Regional) finished out the scoring for Rider, converting a pass from freshman Christine van Egmond (Heemstede, Netherlands) for the final score with 3:08 remaining.

“The great thing is that no one really cares who is scoring the goals,” Hussong said.  “Everyone is playing very unselfishly.  We've done a good job of cashing in on the opportunities that have presented themselves.”

Senior goalie Joelle Prettyman (Newark, Del./St. Mark's) made five saves.

“You can't overlook the play of the back line,” Hussong said.  “Joelle and the defense just had a solid game.”

“The defense played solid and we did a good job communicating,” said Henderson who moved to the back line beginning with this season.  “We are playing together and have that 'tough as nails' attitude that coach Hussong expects.  Today we just played as if it was a 0-0 game the whole time, no matter how much we scored.”

Each team had 13 shots. 

The Broncs had seven penalty corners to 11 for Vermont.

This was the most goals for Rider since scoring eight times in a shutout win against Lehigh on September 30, 2012.

Rider is now 3-0 all-time against Vermont.  The teams last met in 2014, also in Vermont when the Broncs scored a 2-1 double overtime victory.  The series began in 2003 with Rider also scoring a 2-1 win.

Rider travels to Hofstra University on Friday, September 11 at 4pm for a non-conference game.

“Being undefeated is huge for us and we want to keep it going,” Ippolite added.  “We want to keep the intensity going.”

-RU-