College Field Hockey
Lehigh University 2, Rider University 1

BETHLEHEM, PA—The Rider University field hockey team opened the 2016 season with a 2-1 loss at Lehigh University on Friday afternoon at the Ulrich Sports Complex.

“It was a very disappointing opening game for us,” said Lori Hussong who began her 17th season at Rider.  “We can play far better than we did.  Our veteran players need to take control of the game more.”

Trailing 1-0 after the Mountain Hawks scored 15:02 into the game, sophomore Jessica Randazzo (Media, PA/Cardinal O'Hara) celebrated her birthday week by deflecting a penalty corner into the cage at 17:06 of the opening half to tie the score.  A Second Team All-Conference performer last season with four goals and four assists, Randazzo played 62 minutes in the contest.

Freshman Alice Otterson (Stratford, New Zealand) played 55 minutes and was credited with the assist in her first collegiate game.

Lehigh (1-0) took a 2-1 lead into intermission on a deflection in front of the cage with 1:39 left in the opening half.

Freshman goalie Voirrey Baker (Ramsey, British Isles) made two saves in her first collegiate start for Rider (0-1).

Led by five shots from freshman Daane Koch (Berkel, Netherlands), Rider out-shot Lehigh 17-5 and the Broncs held an 8-3 penalty corner advantage.

“We need to improve on basic fundamentals,” Hussong added.  “We just didn't execute.  When you get 17 shots, more than one has to go in the cage.”

Today's game was the 37th meeting between Rider and Lehigh with the Broncs now holding a 19-17-1 advantage. 

Lehigh snapped a six-game losing streak to the Broncs.  The last Mountain Hawk win over Rider was in 2007.  Rider defeated the Mountain Hawks 3-0 in the 2015 season opener.

“Melissa Cunningham (Oaklyn/Collingswood) had a solid game,” said Hussong about her junior defender who logged all 70 minutes on the back line.

Rider travels to Maryland to face the Tigers of Towson University on Sunday at 1pm.

“We have to get on the practice field tomorrow and fix what we did wrong today,” Hussong said.  “We need to learn how to score.  If you don't score, you can't win the game.”

The home opener is September 2 against Georgetown at 7pm on Ben Cohen Field.

-RU-