Thursday, August 26, 2021
Rider Broncs (0-0-0) vs. Villanova Wildcats (0-0-0)
Location: Villanova, PA – Higgins Soccer Complex
Kickoff: 4 p.m.
Live Video ($): FloFC
Live Stats: Villanova.com

What You Need To Know
- The Rider University men's soccer team opens the 2021 season Thursday at Villanova. The game will be broadcast live on FloFC. FloFC is a subscription service with monthly ($4.99) and yearly ($49.99) options.
- The Broncs were picked fourth in the MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll. Rider has qualified for the MAAC Championships in each of the last eight seasons, including four MAAC title game appearances and three MAAC Championships in that span.
- Graduate student midfielder Francisco Gomez Olano was named to the Preseason All-MAAC Team. Gomez Olano followed up a two-goal, three-assist performance in 17 games in his first season at Rider in 2019 with a three-assist effort in just five games last Spring.
- The Broncs also return graduate student forward Pablo DeCastro, who's scored 27 goals and registered 61 points over the last four seasons. A two-time All-MAAC Second Team selection, DeCastro scored the game-winning goal in the 2018 MAAC Championship  Game at Quinnipiac.
- Graduate student goalkeeper Pablo Gatinois also returns for Rider. He's won 19 games in his three seasons at Rider, compiling 14 clean sheets. His next shutout would tie him for the most in program history with Chip Maruca.
- Rider returns nearly all of its scoring from a year ago, with only Guillaume Vacter's one goal not returning. Vacter transferred to the University of Connecticut.
- The Broncs lead the all-time series with Villanova, which dates back to 1985, 5-2-0. The first five meetings came in the late 80's, with Rider winning the first three and four of the first five. More recently, the Wildcats took a 2-1 win in overtime in 2016, before the Broncs got back in the win column with a 2-0 decision in 2017.
- Villanova was picked 11^th of 11 teams in the Big East Preseason Poll.
- The Wildcats return their top scorer from last season, Lyam McKinnon, who had two goals and two assists.