College Field Hockey-MAAC Semifinals
Monmouth University  3,  Rider University 2 (2OT)

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ— The 2016 Rider University field hockey season came to an end Friday with a double overtime loss in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference semifinals to the regular season champion Monmouth Hawks.

“Our players could not have played any harder than they did today,” said Rider head coach Lori Hussong. “We were really proud of their effort.”

#1 Monmouth (16-2, 6-0 MAAC) scored in the 93rd minute of play on a three-on-one for the Golden Goal.

Rider freshman Alice Otterson (Stratford, New Zealand) scored with no time remaining in regulation off a penalty corner to tie the score at 2-2, sending the contest into overtime.

“For us to come back to score with no time left on the clock says a lot of the character of our team,” Hussong said. “That was probably the first time ever that we scored with no time left on the clock.”

It was Otterson's second goal of the season. Junior Melissa Cunningham (Oaklyn, NJ/Collingswood) assisted on the goal.

Rider senior Carlota Alsina (Barcelona, Spain) scored to tie the score at 1-1 in the 41st minute of play. “That was a really nice goal,” Hussong said. “She beat a couple of players and took it to her left and just rifled it in,” It was her sixth goal of the season and the 18th of her career. A three-time First Team All-MAAC selection, Alsina graduates with 65 career points, 16th most ever at Rider.

Monmouth took a 1-0 lead 2:08 into the second half and took a 2-1 lead in the 57th minute.

Monmouth out-shot #4 Rider (10-9, 4-2 MAAC) 24-19 and had 16 penalty corner's to Rider's 10. “we had chances to score, we just couldn't cash in on them,” Hussong said.

Rider freshman goalkeeper Emily Gilligan (West Deptford) made a career-high nine saves.

“Emily really showed up today,” Hussong said.  "She played like a veteran today.  She came through in big moments  All of her inexperience wasn't on the field today.  Hopefully she can springboard off of this for next year and the years to come."

This was the 17th consecutive season that the Broncs qualified for postseason play.

Rider returns all but four players for the 2017 season.

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