LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Sophomore goalkeeper Lena Vandam (Brasschaat, Belgium) posted her second consecutive shutout to lead the Rider University field hockey team past visiting Saint Francis (Pa.), 3-0, on Sunday afternoon in non-conference action at Ben Cohen Field.   

The Broncs (3-3) won their second game in a row, while the Red Flash (3-5) lost their second straight road match.    

Vandam turned aside a season-high six shots to record her third clean sheet of the autumn. The second-year netminder tuned aside four in the opening half and stopped both shots she faced during the final 35 minutes.   

Rider sophomore Marion Waterkeyn (Antwerp, Belgium/OLVE) continued her solid play for the Broncs. She assisted on each of the first two Rider strikes. Waterkeyn also fired a shot off the crossbar less than two minutes into the game to help the hosts pick up early momentum.  

The Broncs got on the board quickly as freshman Carly Brosious (Drexel Hill, PA/Archbishop Pendergast) converted a feed from Waterkeyn just over five and a half minutes into play. Brosious finished a pass from Waterkeyn in front of the keeper for her second marker of the fall and give the Broncs a 1-0 advantage. 

Later in the first half, freshman Julia Divorra (Terassa, Spain/Vedruna Vall) gave Rider a little breathing room. Divorra took a pass from Waterkeyn and found the back of the cage in the 22nd minute to give the Broncs a 2-0 lead. The tally was her third of the year.

In the 62nd minute, junior Tess Coorens (Leiden, Netherlands/Visser'T Hooft Lyceum) put the game out of reach for the Broncs. She scored on a penalty stroke to give the hosts a 3-0 edge.  

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

NOTES & QUOTES
"I think it was a good game for us. St. Francis is always a tough match for us because they play with a lot of energy and intensity. Our younger players have learned to step up to the challenge." – Rider Head Coach Lori Hussong

"It's important for us to get up early. Having a two-goal lead helps us settle in on defense. Lena played tremendous in goal once again and our back line was solid as well. Our defense stayed poise. We stayed calm and maintained possession." – Hussong

- Rider leads the all-time series with Saint Francis (Pa.), 18-2.
- The Broncs have now defeated the Red Flash in each of the last three seasons.
- Rider held a 16-6 advantage in shots. All six of SFU's shots were on goal.
- The Broncs took nine penalty corners compared to six for SFU.
- All three of Rider's win in 2018 have come via shutout.
- Rider has won their last 10 home openers under Hussong, including nine consecutive shutouts.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Vandam now has eight shutouts in her career for Rider. She made four or more saves in a contest for the fourth time in 2018.
- Waterkeyn already has a career-high nine points (3G, 3A) this season. She has recorded a point in four straight games and in five of her six appearances this year.
- The game-winning goal was Brosious' first of the season and the first of her career.
- Coorens has now scored five goals this year. Two of which have come on penalty strokes.  

UP NEXT
Rider returns to action on Friday, September 21 with a road non-conference contest against Hofstra. The Broncs are looking to avenge a 3-2 setback to the Pride last season.