Lawrenceville, NJ – The Rider University field hockey team fell to visiting Villanova, 4-3, in overtime on Sunday afternoon in non-conference action at Ben Cohen Field.

The Broncs (4-4) fell to the Wildcats (4-5) in overtime for the second year in a row.

With the score tied at three and just under two minutes remaining in the first overtime frame, Villanova was awarded a penalty corner. Off the corner, Wildcat midfielder Christen Pennington beat Rider goalkeeper Lena Vandam (Brasschaat, Belgium) for the game-winner.

It was a back-and-forth game as Rider took a 2-1 edge in halftime. During the first 35 minutes, the hosts saw freshman Julia Divorra (Terassa, Spain/Vedruna Vall) and sophomore Marion Waterkeyn (Antwerp, Belgium/OLVE) find the back of the cage.

Villanova would answer with a pair of early markers in the second half to take a 3-2 advantage.

With less than five minutes remaining in regulation, Rider junior Tess Coorens (Leiden, Netherlands/Visser'T Hooft Lyceum) knotted the game with her team-leading seventh goal of the fall. Coorens scored off a penalty corner with Waterkeyn and freshman Tess van Ommeren (Amsterdam, Netherlands/Sint Nicolaas Lyceum) picking up the assists.

Rider played most of the overtime period down a player after a Bronc picked up a yellow card.

In goal for the Broncs, Vandam turned aside four shots in a losing effort.

NOTES & QUOTES
"I think for most of the day we played good, hard hockey. We had a little lull in the middle of the game where we let Villanova take control, but we were able to come back and force overtime. The end result was not what we wanted and we're going to move forward from this." – Rider Head Coach Lori Hussong

"The offense is coming along fine. Defensively we need to work on our corner defense and not allowing our opponents to get as many corners. If we can limit the amount of chances we give opposing teams we'll be better off." – Hussong

- Rider is now 0-2 in overtime games this fall and 0-2 in games decided by one goal.
- Rider leads the all-time series, 12-8-1, with Villanova.
- Rider held a 16-12 advantage in shots. The Broncs had 11 shots on goal compared to nine for the Wildcats.
- The Broncs had 13 penalty corners and Nova took eight.
- Rider is outscoring opponents, 16-7, in the first half this season.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Marion Waterkeyn already has a career-high 16 points (6G, 4A) this season. She has recorded a point in six straight games and in seven of her eight appearances this year. She had a goal and an assist on Sunday.
- Coorens has scored in seven of Rider's eight games this fall. She leads the team with seven goals and is tied with Julia Divorra for the team lead with 17 points.  
- Divorra has now scored in three consecutive games for the Broncs. She leads the team with five assists and is tied for tops on the team in points.
- Alison Amen had a defensive save for Rider. She now has a team-best two defensive saves on the year for the Broncs.
- Freshmen Gi Morganti and Tess van Ommeren both had one assist apiece for the Broncs.

UP NEXT
Rider returns to action on Friday, September 28 with a home conference contest against in-state rival Monmouth that is slated to begin at 7:00pm at Ben Cohen Field. The Broncs are looking to avenge a 2-0 setback to the Hawks in the MAAC Semifinals last season. The game will be streamed live on ESPN3.