TOWSON, MD – Sophomore goalkeeper Lena Vandam (Brasschaat, Belgium) stopped all four shots she faced to post a shutout and lead the Rider University field hockey team past host Towson,2-0, on Wednesday evening in non-conference action at Johnny Unitas Stadium.  

The Broncs (2-3) snapped a two-game skid with the victory, while the Tigers (1-5) have lost two of their last three home games against opponents from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).    

Vandam turned aside three shots in the first half and made one stop over the final 35 minutes to pick up her second shutout of the season.  

Rider sophomore Marion Waterkeyn (Antwerp, Belgium/OLVE) scored what proved to be the game-winner late in the opening frame. Waterkeyn buried a feed from senior Jessica Randazzo (Media, PA/Cardinal O'Hara) in the 30th minute for her career-high third marker of the autumn.

In the second half, freshman Kat Conroy (Manahawkin, NJ/Southern Regional) gave the guests a little breathing room with her first career tally. In the 45th minute, Conroy corralled a rebound of a Towson defenders stick and fired it past Tiger netminder Makcenzie Peacock.

Down the stretch, Vandam and the Bronc backline held their ground to preserve the clean sheet.  

NOTES & QUOTES
"Every win is a good win, especially for a young team like ours. We did a lot of good things and we showed more grit than we have been which was the difference." – Rider Head Coach Lori Hussong

"We got strong performances from Jess at center mid, Jade Freeberg at right mid and Lena played well in goal. Marion got us on the board and Kat gave us some breathing room. It was a great team win and we made some very important steps forward. We were proud of our overall effort." – Hussong

- Rider leads the all-time series with Towson, 17-4-1.
- The Broncs have now defeated the Tigers in each of the last six seasons.
- Towson held a 6-3 advantage in shots. All three of Rider's shots were on goal.
- The Broncs took 10 penalty corners compared to just five for Towson.
- Both of Rider's win in 2018 have come via shutout.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Vandam now has seven shutouts in her career for Rider. She made four or more saves in a contest for the third time in 2018.
- Waterkeyn already has a career-high seven points (3G, 1A) this season. She has recorded a point in three straight games and in four of her five appearances this year. It was her first game-winning goal of the season and the second of her career.
- Randazzo's helper was her first of the season and the seventh of her career.
- Conroy now has one goal and one assist on the season.  

UP NEXT
Rider returns to action on Sunday, September 16 with a home non-conference contest against St. Francis (Pa.). The game will serve as the home opener for the Broncs. Rider is looking for their third straight win against SFU.