PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Rider University field hockey team fell on the road to Drexel,8-2, on Sunday afternoon in non-conference action at Buckley Field.

The Dragons erupted for six second-half goals to break the game open en route to their first win of the year, while the Broncs dropped to 0-1.

Rider struck first, wasting little as sophomore Marion Waterkeyn (Antwerp, Belgium/OLVE) converted a feed from freshman Julia Divorra (Terrassa, Spain/Vedruna Vall) just under two and a half minutes into play. The marker was the third of Waterkeyn's career and gave the Broncs the early advantage.

The host Dragons countered with the equalizer seven minutes later and took the lead for good late in the first half courtesy of a strike from Sydney Muntone.

In the second half, Drexel outscored the Broncs, 6-1.

In the cage for Rider, sophomore Lena Vandam (Brasschaat, Belgium) made five saves in a losing effort.

NOTES & QUOTES
"It was a tough opener and while we are extremely disappointed with the outcome we will have to regroup and work even harder to prepare for our next game. It's going to be a building process as we have a very young team and it's going to take time learning and improving." – Rider Head Coach Lori Hussong

- Both teams took seven penalty corners.
- Drexel held a 23-10 advantage in shots.
- Julia Divorra, Gi Morganti, Carly Brosious, Alexa Burns and Kat Conroy all made their debuts for the Broncs.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Rider is now 9-10 in season openers under Hussong.
- Drexel leads the all-time series, 14-9-2, with the Broncs. The Dragons have won seven straight contests versus Rider.
- Waterkeyn's goal was the first of the season for Rider. She had two tallies as a freshman.
- Divorra picked up her first career point with the assist on Waterkeyn's marker.
- Tess Coorens scored on a penalty stroke for the Broncs in the 59th minute. It was her fifth career goal.

UP NEXT
Rider returns to action on Friday, August 31 traveling to the Tar Heel State to square off with Davidson in non-conference action. The Broncs topped the Wildcats, 5-1, in last year's season opener. The two teams have split their four meeting in the series history.