Philadelphia, PA – The Rider University field hockey team lost on the road to Drexel, 2-1, on Tuesday evening in non-conference action at Buckley Field.

The Broncs (2-1) saw their two-game winning streak to begin the year come to an end, while the Dragons (2-2) won their home opener.

Rider fell behind early and saw its rally to come up just short.

Drexel opened the scoring just under 12 minutes into the game courtesy of a strike from Tess Horan. Late in the first half, the Dragons gave themselves a two-goal edge thanks to an unassisted strike from Katie Pappas.

The Pappas marker would prove to be the game-winner.

In the second half, freshman Marion Waterkeyn (Antwerp, Belgium/OLVE) got the Broncs on the board with her first goal of the season.

In the 58th minute, the Broncs threatened to tie the contest as both graduate transfer Maria Madsen (Farmingdale, NJ/Howell/University of Richmond) and sophomore Alice Otterson (Stratford, New Zealand/New Plymouth) both fired shots on goal that were turned aside by Drexel goalkeeper Erin Gilchrist.

Notes & Quotes
"Drexel was well skilled and played a beautiful passing game," Rider Head Coach Lori Hussong said. "Had we been able to match our intensity in both halves we may have had a chance for a better outcome. Hopefully we learn from this and move forward in a positive direction."

- Rider is now 9-13-2 all-time against Drexel. The Broncs have not defeated the Dragons since 1995.
- Freshman goalkeeper Lena Vandam was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday afternoon.
- Drexel had a 13-10 advantage in shots.
- The Dragons also held an 8-4 advantage in penalty corners.

Broncs by the Numbers
- In goal for the Broncs, Vandam made four saves. It marked the second time this season that the first-year netminder has turned aside four or more shots in a game.  
- Rider outshot Drexel, 6-5, in the second half.
- The marker was the first of Waterkeyn's career.
- Emily Quintus and Jade Freeberg had a team-high two shots apiece.
- Five different Broncs had one shot on goal in the game.

Up Next
Rider has a busy week ahead, traveling to face Holy Cross on Friday before heading further north to the Granite State to take on Dartmouth on Saturday. The tilt with the Big Green in Hanover is the final game of a five-game road trip to open the year. Friday's contest is the second-ever between the Crusaders and the Broncs with Rider winning the first meeting back in 2010.