NORTH ANDOVER, MA – Julia Divorra (Terrassa, Spain/Vedruna Vall) scored her fourth game-winning goal of the season in the third quarter as the Rider University field hockey team opened NEC play with a 2-1 victory at Merrimack on Friday afternoon. The Broncs improved to 7-2 overall, while the Warriors fell to 0-9.
 
The Warriors opened the scoring in the second quarter. After Merrimack goalie Brooke Bolduc made a save on a Bronc penalty stroke, the Warriors earned and converted on a stroke of their own.
 
The Broncs fired back in the third. Tess van Ommeren (Amsterdam, Netherlands/Sint Nicolaas Lyceum) found Carly Brosious (Drexel Hill, PA/Monsignor Bonner/Archbishop Prendergast), who tied the game just over three minutes into the second half. Minutes later, Sierra Giuliano (Franklinville, NJ/Delsea Regional) made a long pass in to the circle, where Divorra took the backhand shot that would prove to be the game winner.

Quotes & Notes
"I'm so proud of our team and the effort that they gave today. Merrimack played us tough, and our team had to dig deep to get the job done. Once again, our seniors rose to the occasion and led our team to success."
 
"Conference play is intense and there is very little room for error. We know we have to be at the top of our game each time out." – Head Coach Lori Hussong
 
- Rider has now taken all three meetings between the programs.
- Kaitlyn Tomas (Campbellville, Ontario/Appleby College) made three saves to earn the victory.
- Brosious has now scored in three straight games.
- Kiki van Ommeren (Amsterdam, Netharlands/Montessori Lyceum Amsterdam) Tess van Ommeren, Divorra, Maeve Riehman (Norristown, PA/Archbishop Carroll), and Jenna Segrave (Ledgewood, NJ/Roxbury) played all 60 minutes in the game

Broncs By The Numbers
- Brosious and Divorra scored a goal in the same game for the first time this season.
- Divorra has recorded a point in eight of nine games this season.
- The Broncs out-shot the Warriors 20-7, including an 11-4 advantage in shots on goal.
- Rider earned nine penalty corners, to just four for Merrimack.
 
Up Next
- The Broncs return home for a game against Lock Haven on Sunday at 12 p.m. The game will be Rider's Play for Cathy Game and the team will honor its beloved team mentor Cathy Carter Romero, Rider's former Director of Publications, who passed away in January of 2015 after a courageous 13-year battle with breast cancer.