UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – The Rider University field hockey team fell to nationally-ranked No. 7 Connecticut, 5-0, in the NCAA Tournament First Round Friday afternoon at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex. With the loss, the Broncs conclude their season at 6-2, while the Huskies improve to 12-1.
The Huskies scored once each in the first, second and third quarters to take a 3-0 lead before scoring twice in the game's final four minutes to account for the 5-0 final score.
Quotes & Notes
"I'm really proud of our team's effort. To get here to NCAA's is really a great experience for our an athletes in college. Our kids are amazing kids and student-athletes and we couldn't be more proud of them."
"UConn is extremely talented and extremely skilled. And, for the most part, we hung in there pretty well with them." –
Rider Head Coach Lori Hussong
- Rider made its seventh appearance in the NCAA Tournament in Head Coach
Lori Hussong's 21 years at the helm.
- The appearance was Rider's first since 2012, when the Broncs lost in overtime in the play-in game to Massachusetts.
- Rider was making its first appearance in the main draw of the tournament after six play-in games. Friday's game marked the first NCAA contest Rider played as a non-road team, as the first six were all played on the Broncs' opponents' home fields.
Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider goalkeeper
Kaitlyn Tomas (Campbellville, Ontario/Appleby College) made a season-high five saves in the loss.
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Kiki van Ommeren (Amsterdam, Netherlands/Montessori Lyceum Amsterdam) made her first collegiate defensive save, knocking aside a UConn shot in the fourth minute.
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Julia Divorra (Terrassa, Spain/Vedruna Vall) led Rider with two shots in the game, including one on goal.
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Kat Conroy (Manahawkin, NJ/Southern Regional) and
Tess van Ommeren (Amsterdam, Netherlands/Sint Nicolaas Lyceum) also were credited with shots, with Conroy's being on target.
- UConn took a 19-4 edge in shots, including an 11-2 edge in shots on goal.
- The Huskies enjoyed a 7-2 advantage in penalty corners.
