PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Rider University field hockey team fell to regional rival La Salle, 2-1, on Tuesday afternoon in non-conference action at Hank DeVincent Field.

The Broncs (10-6) saw their seven-game road winning streak come to an end, while the Explorers (8-8) topped Rider by one goal for the second straight year.

La Salle got on the board early, scoring off a penalty corner in the seventh minute of play. Mackenzie Karcher gave the hosts a 1-0 lead and her strike would be the only goal during the opening 35 minutes.

Just over five minutes into the second half, La Salle took a 2-0 lead as they once again scored off a penalty corner. Lauren Lechleitner converted a pass from Rialee Allen for the eventual game-winner in the 41st minute.

Rider freshman Tess van Ommeren (Amsterdam, Netherlands/Sint Nicolaas Lyceum) put the Broncs on the board and the cut the deficit in half with an unassisted marker in the 51st minute. van Ommeren saw her initial shot turned aside by the Explorer goalkeeper, but she was able to finish the rebound and find the back of the cage.

Rider threatened down the stretch. The Broncs had chances, but a late yellow card had the Broncs with a player down in crunch time.

In goal for the Broncs, sophomore netminder Lena Vandam (Brasschaat, Belgium) made three saves in a losing effort.  

NOTES & QUOTES
"It was not one of our best days and we had a hard time drumming up our usual energy that we need to sustain any type of attack." – Rider Head Coach Lori Hussong

- The Broncs are 8-4 on the road this season.
- The loss snapped Rider's six game winning streak.
- Rider leads the all-time series with La Salle, 25-10-1.       
- La Salle held an 11-8 advantage in shots. Both teams had six shots on goal.
- The Broncs had three penalty corners and the Explorers took eight scoring off two.
- Rider is now 3-4 in games decided by one goal or fewer this season. They had won three straight one-goal games before Tuesday's result.  

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Tess van Ommeren registered a point for the sixth straight game. Over her last seven games she has four goals and five assists. She leads the team with eight helpers this autumn. van Ommeren had a team-high four shots on goal against the Explorers.
- Freshman Alexa Burns recorded her first career defensive save for the Broncs.
- Tess Coorens and Marion Waterkeyn each had one shot on goal apiece.
- On the year, Lena Vandam is 10-6 with a 2.02 goals-against average, 98 saves, a .742 save percentage and four shutouts.

UP NEXT
Rider returns to action and closes out regular-season Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play with a road contest against Sacred Heart on Friday, October 26. The tilt with the Pioneers gets underway at 7:00 pm and will decide seeding in the upcoming MAAC Tournament as both teams have already qualified for the postseason. The Broncs won last season's meeting, 3-0, in Lawrenceville.