Box Score Women's College Soccer
Rider University 2, Quinnipiac University 1
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ— Five years ago, the one-year old turf field in the back of Rider University's Lawrenceville campus was dedicated and named the Ben Cohen Field. Benjamin Cohen '10 was a loyal supporter of Rider athletics and attended countless games while an undergraduate. Ben's parents, David and Rhonda Cohen, donated to the construction of the turf field in his honor.
Since the night of the dedication, September 16, 2011, the Rider women's soccer team has compiled a record of 31-8-5 on Ben Cohen Field.
On Saturday, the Broncs used that home field advantage to their advantage, defeating Quinnipiac University in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game.
Rider (4-2-2, 1-0 MAAC) broke a 1-1 tie with 20 minutes left to play when junior Michelle Iacono (Merrick, N.Y./Calhoun) made a perfect cross to the foot of freshman Sofia Soares (Sao Paulo, Brazil/St. Nicholas), who scored her second collegiate goal and her second game-winner from just one yard out.
“Michelle made a really nice cross,” said Rider head coach Drayson Hounsome, “and Sofia made a nice run and scored from in close.”
“Sofia made the run, she worked hard and ran far post,” said Iacono. “The ball landed and she got her foot on it. It was a brilliant finish.”
“It was a brilliant cross,” said senior Caroline Healy (Dublin, Ireland/Alexandra College), who scored the first goal of the game.
Rider took a 1-0 lead 20 minutes into the game when Healy picked up a loose ball and scored from 15 yards out. “Caroline scored a reactionary goal,” Hounsome said.
“One of their defenders tried to clear it and luckily I was at the right place at the right time,” Healy said, “and I just kicked it into the back of the net.”
It was Healy's second goal of the season and the ninth of her career.
Quinnipiac (4-3-1, 0-1 MAAC) tied the score at 1-1 on a counter attack 15 minutes into the second half. “They caught us on a counter to get back in it,” Hounsome said, “but we responded well to get that winning goal.”
Both team had 14 shots. Rider had nine shots in the first half to QU's seven. “We played pretty well in the first half, controlling tempo,” Hounsome said.
Rider senior goalkeeper Bethany-May Howard (Glastonbury, England/Bridgwater College) made seven saves. Howard currently ranks 20th in the nation in saves with 55.
Quinnipiac entered the game with the best overall record in the MAAC. “They were the top in the MAAC in wins coming in so we knew a win today was important,” Hounsome said.
The Bobcats have scored a MAAC-high 17 goals this season, while Rider is second with 13.
Rider won 2-0 at Quinnipiac last year. The last time Quinnipiac came to Lawrenceville (2014) the Broncs won 2-1. In 2013, the first meeting between these two teams, the Broncs lost 2-0 at Quinnipiac.
Rider is now 3-0-1 in its last four MAAC openers. “It feels good to be 1-0 in the league,” Hounsome said. “There is no better feeling,” Healy said.
The Broncs host Canisius for a 1pm MAAC game September 24.”We are ready to go next week,” Hounsome said.
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