FREDERICA, DE – Senior Kourtney Cunningham's (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) hat trick sent the Rider University women's soccer team past Delaware State, 5-1, Wednesday night at DE Turf Sports Complex. With the win, the Broncs wrap up non-conference play at 4-2-1, while the Hornets are now 2-7-0.

Cunningham got the scoring started in the third minute, finishing an assist from Valeria Pascuet (Bunuel, Navarra, Spain/San Fermin Ikastola) from 30 yards out, high and left of the goalkeeper. After the Hornets evened the score just over two minutes later, Pascuet and Cunningham combined on what proved to be the game winner in the 66^th minute. Pascuet fired from 20 yards out into the middle of the net.

Cunningham would find the back of the net in the 68^th and 72^nd minutes off assists from Sam Picinich (North Bellmore, NY/Mepham) and Teresa Richardson (Las Vegas, NV/Bishop Gorman), respectively, to put the game out of reach. Erica Ludwikowski (Williamsport, PA/Williamsport) scored her first-career goal on Cameron Santers' (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) first-career assist in the 85^th minute to add insurance. Ludwikowski was at the doorstep for the rebound of Santers' initial saved shot.  
 
Quotes and Notes
"We struggled in the first half, maybe due to the bus ride, but it was a pleasing second-half performance. Congrats to Kourtney on her first collegiate hat trick." - Rider Head Coach Drayson Hounsome 
 
- Rider now leads the all-time series with Delaware State, 8-0-1.  
- After conceding the game's first goal in its first five, Rider has now scored first its last two.
- The hat trick was the first of Cunningham's career and the first by a Bronc since Ellie Smith scored three in a 5-0 win over Fairleigh Dickinson on Aug. 25, 2016.
- The Broncs' five goals were also the most in a single game since the 5-0 win over FDU in 2016.
- The goal was the first of Ludwikowski's career, while Santers and Richardson registered their first-career assists.
- Picinich, Pascuet and Cunningham each collected their second assists of the year, and are all tied for the team lead.
 
Broncs By The Numbers
- Cunningham's seven points give her 48 for her career, passing current Rider assistant coach Tara Ballay (45) for eighth in program history. Her 17 career goals are two behind former teammates Ellie Smith and Michelle Iacono, and are ninth-most in program history.
- Cunningham has already matched her season-high in goals with five. She also scored five times in 2015 and 2017. She's just a point off her season total from last year.  
- Pascuet scored for the second-straight game after a brace at Columbia on Sunday. She now has three goals and an assist in her last two games and three goals and two assists on the season.
- Delaware State took a 14-12 edge in shots. All 12 of Rider's shots were on target to eight shots on goal for the Hornets.
- Amy Kozlowski (Middletown, CT/Middletown) made a career-high seven saves to earn her second win in as many games.  
- The Broncs held a 4-1 edge in corner kicks.