FAIRFIELD, CT – The Rider University men's soccer team's quest for a third-straight MAAC Championship fell short Sunday evening as top-seeded Fairfield took a 1-0 victory on an own goal in the 71^st minute. The Broncs (12-5-2) became the fifth program in MAAC history to play in three-straight MAAC Championship Games. Fairfield (12-4-3) now awaits its NCAA Tournament opponent, to be announced tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.

Both teams developed chances in the first half, with Rider senior goalkeeper David Pastuna (Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville) making three saves in the first half. On the offensive end, the Broncs' best chance of the game arguably came in the 30^th minute, when Pablo DeCastro's (Madrid, Spain) shot hit the post.

The game was decided on a cross sent into the box that freshman back Sylvain Coco (Nimes, France/Montpellier University) made a diving attempt at. But it went off his head and deflected past Pastuna for the score.
 
Quotes and Notes
"It was a tough way to lose on an own goal. It is difficult to play against a very defensive-minded team. We certainly had a chance to win but we didn't put away our chances when we had them. That may have been the difference between tonight and our previous two championships."
 
"I want to thank our three seniors for four amazing years. This group won 48 games including a 39-15 record in the past three years. Oakley was one of the best teammates I had the good fortune to coach and he will have an amazing career in law enforcement. David will go down as one of the best keepers to play at Rider and he will be an amazing physician someday. And Jose will obviously be remembered as one of the program's best players ever and will make a great pro."
 
"Don't feel sorry for us. We return nine starters and have eight underclassmen. We will be back."." – Rider Head Coach Charlie Inverso

- The Broncs are now 4-2 in MAAC Championship Games, having won the title in 1997, 1998, 2015 and 2016, while falling in 2004 and 2017.   
- Elliott Otmani (La Ciotat, France/Bonaparte), Jose Aguinaga (Madrid, Spain) and Sylvain Coco (Nimes, France/Montpellier University) were named to the All-MAAC Championship Team.
- The Stags extended their lead in the all-time series with the Broncs to 19-8-1, including a 4-2 edge in MAAC Tournament contests. The two teams have each taken a MAAC Championship (Rider – 1998; Fairfield – 2017) in that time.
 
Broncs By The Numbers
- Aguinaga took a team-high three shots for the Broncs, while DeCastro attempted two.
- Pastuna made four saves in the contest.
- Fairfield outshot the Broncs, 11-8, including a 5-2 edge in shots on goal.
- Rider took a 3-0 advantage on corner kicks.
- Aguinaga finishes his Rider career a program-record 32 assists.