Women's College Soccer

Temple University 1, Rider University 0 (OT)

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ—“It's a long, long while from May to December, but the days grow short when you reach September” is a line from the September Song.

The days may be growing short, but September 1 seemed like a long night for the Rider women's soccer team, as the Broncs fell to Temple Thursday evening in overtime following a 30-minute lightning delay.

“We competed and we battled against a good team,” said Rider head coach Drayson Hounsome.  “But to lose in overtime is very disappointing.”

For Temple (2-2), Gabriella McKeown picked up a loose ball and scored from 20 yards out 2:40 into the first overtime for the Golden Goal.

Temple out-shot Rider (2-2) 18-9, including 1-0 in overtime. “We had some good chances in the first half,” Hounsome said. “Attacking-wise we were dangerous; we created chances against good, physical, athletic defenders.”

The final 25 minutes of the first half was played in a steady downpour, and right after halftime the skies cleared, a rainbow covered the field, but the lightning detectors went off, causing the 30-minute delay.

“The conditions were challenging,” Hounsome said.  `”It was a messy game. Maybe a messy game doesn't suit our style of play.”

Rider senior goalkeeper Bethany-May Howard (Glastonbury, England/Bridgwater College) made six saves.

Jordan Nash made three saves for Temple.

The loss was just Rider's second at home in the last 11 games on Ben Cohen Field.

The Broncs lost 2-1 at Temple last season and 3-0 to the Owls in Lawrenceville in 2014. The last time Rider defeated Temple was during the 2013 season (1-0). The all-time series is now tied at 3-3.

Rider plays at Bucknell Sunday afternoon. “We are testing ourselves with this schedule,” Hounsome said.  “Bucknell will be another tough game, a real challenge, but the focus is not to be 7-0 in the non-conference games and not win the MAAC. There is only one goal, and these games are preparing us for the MAAC games.”

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