Thursday, September 2, 2021
Rider Broncs (0-1-1) vs. Central Connecticut State Blue Devils (0-1-0)
Location: Lawrenceville, NJ – Ben Cohen Field
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m.
Live Video: BroncVision
Live Stats: GoBroncs.com

What You Need To Know
- The Rider University men's soccer team plays host to Central Connecticut State Thursday evening in its home opener. The game will be broadcast live on BroncVision.
- The Broncs opened the season with a 2-0 setback at Villanova this past Thursday, before playing NJIT to a 2-2 draw Monday night in Newark.
- Zaki Alibou and Francisco Gomez Olano each scored goals in the tie at NJIT. Gomez Olano scored off the rebound of his own saved shot after Alibou played him into the box. Alibou contributed a diving header off a Sergio Aguinaga cross.
- 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.
- Gomez Olano was named to the Preseason All-MAAC Team. He 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.
- Broncs and Blue Devils played four times from 1989-93, with CCSU taking a 2-1-1 lead in the all-time series. The first three meetings came as members of the East Coast Conference before the Broncs departed for the Northeast Conference, the current home of the Blue Devils.
- The Blue Devils return four All-NEC selections from a year ago in Second Teamers Sean Gannon and Ivan Farias-Martinez and All-Rookie Team honorees Zane Brown and Kacper Skonieczny.
- Skonieczny led the Blue Devils with three goals in seven games last Spring, while Gannon was CCSU's leader in assists (3) and points (7).