LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Villanova scored on a first-half penalty kick and added a second goal in the 57
th minute to defeat the Rider University men's soccer team, 2-0, Wednesday night on Ben Cohen Field. With the loss, the Broncs slip to 3-2, while the Wildcats are now 3-3.
The Wildcats got on the board in the 42
nd minute, when they were awarded a penalty kick for a hand ball inside the 18-yard box. Lucas Vums Hodges went left to beat Rider goalkeeper
David Pastuna (Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville) for what proved to be the game-winning goal.
Less than 12 minutes into the second half, Andreas Bartosinski started and finished a give-and-go down the left sideline with Theo Quartley to give the Wildcats some insurance. Bartosinski finished low past the charging Pastuna's feet and inside the left post.
Quotes and Notes
"One of the hallmarks of this team in the last four years has been our passion and fight and I'm disappointed in our fight tonight. To me, there's no excuse for that. We have to come back and get better."
"A couple of guys came off the bench and did a good job for us. There's more guys who need to come in and battle for more minutes from some of the guys who are starting. That makes you a good team when you have competition for spots."
– Rider Head Coach Charlie Inverso
- The loss was the Broncs' first on Ben Cohen Field since Oct. 28, 2015, when they fell to Canisius. Rider had won nine-straight games at home.
- A familiar name and face made his Rider debut off the bench. Freshman back
Sergio Aguinaga (Madrid, Spain), the younger brother of senior forward
Jose Aguinaga (Madrid, Spain), came off the bench and played 31 minutes.
Broncs By The Numbers
- After Villanova took seven of the first nine shots of the game, Rider finished with a 9-7 edge in shots. Both teams put four shots on target.
-
David Pastuna made two saves for the Broncs, while his counterpart, Will Steiner, made four stops.
-
Elliott Otmani (La Ciotat, France/Bonaparte) took a team-high four shots, with one on goal.
Clement Bourret (Orleans, France/Lycee Jean Giraudoux) attempted two shots, with one on goal.
- Rider took six corner kicks to the Wildcats' four.
- Five yellow cards were shown in the second half – three to Villanova and two to Rider.