LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University field hockey team opens the 2018 season on the road on Sunday afternoon, when it travels to the City of Brotherly Love to square off with regional rival Drexel. The Broncs are coming off an 8-11 campaign in 2017 that saw them qualify for postseason play for the 18th season in a row. Thanks to posting a 3-3 mark in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play, Rider made its fifth consecutive appearance in the MAAC Tournament.

What You Need to Know About the 2018 Broncs
-The Broncs return four players from last season that started at least 10 games, including the 2017 MAAC Co-Goalkeeper of the Year Lena Vandam.

- Rider was picked to finish fourth in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

- The Broncs had four players earn Preseason All-MAAC honors. Jessica Randazzo, Alison Amen, Kaitlyn Flemming and goalkeeper Lena Vandam all received league-wide distinction. The four players picking up honors preseason honors were tops in the league followed by MAAC-favorite Monmouth with three student-athletes recognized.

- The team's first win this season will be the 400th in program history. 2018 marks the 40th season in Rider field hockey history.

- Head Coach Lori Hussong is 12 wins away from 250 for her career. She is entering her 19th season at the helm of the program.

- Vandam returns in the cage after posting an 8-11 mark last season with five shutouts, 107 saves, a 1.54 goals-against average and a .781 save percentage. She became the sixth different goalkeeper in program history to record five or more shutouts in a season.

- Sophomore Kaitlyn Flemming is the team's top returning goal scorer from last season. She potted five markers for 10 points and twice named the MAAC Rookie of the Week.

- Flemming will play a pivotal role in the team's defense this year alongside Jessica Randazzo and Alison Amen. Amen started an appeared in 19 games for the Broncs last season. She anchored a backline that posted five shutouts and had a goals-against average of 1.52. Amen was second on the team with a career-high four defensive saves, highlighted by registering two defensive saves in the MAAC Semifinals against Monmouth. She played 70 or more minutes in a game a team-high 17 times last season.

- Rider is 9-9 in season openers under Hussong. The Broncs have also won four of their last five season openers. Last season, Rider raced past Davidson, 5-1, to begin the year.

- Rider is 9-13-2 all-time against Drexel. The Broncs will be looking for their first win versus the Dragons since 1995. Drexel has won seven straight contests versus the Broncs.

- The Broncs have nine newcomers this season Tess van Ommeren (Amsterdam, Netherlands/Sint Nicolaas Lyeum), Gi Morganti (Berlin, NJ/St. Joseph High School), Brooke Gastin (Ulster Park, NY/Kingston High School), Kat Conroy (Manahawkin, NJ/Southern Regional), Alexa Burns (Galloway, NJ/Absegami High School), Ali Hannah (Hopewell, NJ/Stuart Country Day of the Sacred Heart), Carly Brosious (Drexel Hill, PA/Monsignor Bonner/Archbishop Pendergast), Julia Divorra (Terrassa, Spain/Vedruna Vall) and Gabby Greco (Bensalem, Pa/Bensalem) will all join the Broncs for the 2018 campaign.