STATEN ISLAND, NY – The second-seeded Rider University field hockey team fell to No. 1 seed and nationally ranked Fairfield, 2-1, in overtime on Sunday afternoon in the Northeast Conference Championship.
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The Broncs (13-7) see their season come to an end at the hands of the Stags (18-2) for the second year in a row.
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Trailing 1-0 midway through the fourth quarter, Rider was able to even the score at one thanks to a goal from junior
Kaitlyn Flemming (Bellmawr, NJ/Triton Regional High School). Off a corner, Flemming deflected the shot of
Julia Divorra (Terrassa, Spain/Vedruna Vall) into the back of the cage.
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With under a minute remaining in regulation, the Broncs saw two different players get yellow cards.
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Entering the overtime period with a two-player advantage, Fairfield scored the game-winning goal off a corner in the 63rd minute.
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In the cage for Rider, junior
Lena Vandam (Brasschaat, Belgium) made three saves in a losing effort.
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NOTES & QUOTES
"I was really proud of the way the team came back. We didn't quit fighting until the very end. Unfortunately, we got those two cards late in regulation and we had to play two down in overtime."
– Rider Head Coach Lori Hussong
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- Fairfield edged Rider in overtime for the second time this season.
- The last five games between the two teams have been decided by one goal.
- Rider was making its 12 appearance in the NEC Championship Game.
- The Broncs are now 6-6 all-time in the NEC Championship Game.
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Tess van Ommeren,
Brittany Romanczuk and
Lena Vandam were named to the NEC All-Tournament Team.
- It marked the final collegiate game for
Tess Coorens,
Heili Carpino,
Jade Freeberg,
Marion Waterkeyn and
Lena Vandam.
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BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Rider took three penalty corners in the game and Fairfield had four.
- Both teams had eight shots. Rider took six on goal and Fairfield had five on cage.
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Kaitlyn Flemming scored for the second game in a row. She scored a goal in both games against Fairfield this season.
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Julia Divorra picked up her seventh assist of the season. She ends the year with 37 points.
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