FAIRFIELD, CT – The Rider University field hockey team unleashed 35 shots, including 17 on goal, but fell in a shootout at Sacred Heart in the regular-season finale Thursday afternoon. With the loss, the Broncs move to 5-1, while the Pioneers even their league record at 3-3. Prior to the game, the Broncs had already secured the top seed in the NEC Championship Game, to be played next Thursday, April 22 at 4 p.m. on Ben Cohen Field.

Rider peppered Sacred Heart's Hailey Power with shots, but the Pioneers' goalkeeper was equal to the challenge, making 17 saves. Meanwhile, the Pioneers managed just six shots in 80 minutes, with two on target, with Kaitlyn Tomas (Campbellville, Ontario/Appleby College) stopping both.

In the shootout, Tomas was whistled for a foul on the first attempt, resulting in a stroke that Hannah Fawle converted. It would be the only conversion for either team in the shootout, giving Sacred Heart the win.

Notes
- Tomas didn't allow a goal for the fifth time in six games.
- Rider (5-1) will face LIU (4-1) in the NEC Championship Game. The Broncs took a 1-0 win on Long Island in the season opener on March 18.
- Rider was held without a goal for the first time since Nov. 3, 2019, against Lock Haven.

Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider outshot Sacred Heart, 35-6, including a 17-2 edge in shots on goal.
- Carly Brosious (Drexel Hill, PA/Monsignor Bonner/Archbishop Predergast) led Rider with 15 shots, including nine on goal.
- Tess van Ommeren (Amsterdam, Netherlands/Sint Nicolaas Lyceum) also added five shots, with four on goal.
- The Broncs took seven penalty corners to the Pioneers' four.