NEWARK, NJ – Francisco Gomez Olano (Cadiz, Spain/University of Cadiz) and Zaki Alibou (Meknes, Morocco/Meknes) each scored goals as the Rider University men's soccer team played NJIT to a 2-2 tie Monday night. With the tie, the Broncs move to 0-1-1, while the Highlanders are now 1-0-1.

NJIT struck first in the 28^th minute as Regsan Watkins was played into the box from the midfield and placed a shot low inside the right post. Gomez Olano countered in the 39^th minute, scoring off the rebound of his own saved shot after Alibou played him into the 18-yard box. But just 21 seconds later, NJIT was awarded a penalty kick that Rene White converted to give the Highlanders a 2-1 lead at the half.

Rider would even the score in the 74^th minute as Sergio Aguinaga (Madrid, Spain/Antonio Dominguez Ortiz) played a cross from the left sideline that found a diving Alibou's head in front for the equalizer. Rider had perhaps the best scoring opportunity of the remainder of the game, with Regis Dulck's (Ostwald, France/Lycee Jean Monnet Strasbourg) shot in the 104^th minute being cleared off the line by a Highlander defender. But neither team could find the back of the net the rest of the way as the game ended in a draw after 110 minutes.  

Quotes & Notes
"We had a lot of the ball tonight and kept Rene White, the leading active scorer in Division I, in check. But it feels as if we should have gotten a win on the road." - Rider Head Coach Charlie Inverso

- The Broncs maintain a 4-2-3 lead in the all-time series with NJIT.  
- Rider goalkeeper Pablo Gatinois (Madrid, Spain/Lycee Francais de Madrid) made two saves for the Broncs.
- Gatinois, Lenny Cidolit (Montpellier, France/Montpellier Univ. [UCF]), Matt Araujo (Fords, NJ/Saint Joseph), Dulck and Alibou each played all 110 minutes for the Broncs.  

Broncs By The Numbers
- The goal was Alibou's first of the season and second as a Bronc after tallying a goal in the MAAC Quarterfinals last Spring against Iona.
- Gomez Olano scored for the first time since his Rider debut season of 2019, when he had a pair of goals to go along with three assists.
- Aguinaga contributed his first assist of the season and the eighth of his Rider career.
- Rider took an 18-12 edge in shots, including a 7-4 margin in shots on goal.
- The Broncs also took nine corner kicks to the Highlanders' two.

Up Next
- The Broncs return to action Thursday, when they welcome Central Connecticut State University for their home opener on Ben Cohen Field. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m.