Friday, October 28, 2022
Rider Broncs (11-5, 5-1 NEC) vs. Merrimack Warriors (1-15, 1-5 NEC)
Location:  Lawrenceville, NJ
Time: 4 p.m.
Live Broadcast: ESPN3
Live Stats:  GoBroncs.com
 
What You Need To Know
- Friday's game will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
- The Broncs were picked to finish third in the NEC Preseason Coaches Poll. Rider finished fourth in the regular season a year ago, and held a 1-0 lead over top-seeded Fairfield in the NEC Tournament before ultimately falling 2-1.
- Rider has made the postseason 23-straight years after qualifying for the NEC Tournament this season.
- The Broncs moved into first place in the conference with a win over Wagner last time out. The Broncs can clinch the regular season title with a win over Merrimack Friday.
- Rider enters Friday's game on a seven-game winning streak, third longest active streak in the nation.
- Rider's roster features players from six different countries, Canada, Germany, The Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, and the United States.
- Rider earned a 3-1 win over no. 25 American on Oct. 2. It was the Broncs' first-ever win over a ranked opponent.
- Valeria Perales (Madrid, Spain/IES Mirasierra) has been a force in her freshman campaign. She leads all freshman and ranks sixth among all players nationally with 16 goals and 1.00 goals per game. She also ranks among the leaders in the NEC with eight assists. She has three times been named NEC Offensive Player of the Week, and four times been chosen as NEC Rookie of the Week.
- Kaitlyn Tomas (Campbellville, Ontario/Appleby College) leads the NEC in both save percentage (.791) and goals against average (1.23). She has been named NEC Defensive Player of the Week twice, including last week an NEC Prime performer five times this season.
- Indy Zoontjens (Hilversum, Netherlands/Alberdingk Thijm College) has scored a point in 11-straight games including a goal and an assist in Rider's win over Wagner. The reigning NEC Rookie of the Week is up to nine goals and eight assists on the season.
- Semra Said (Mannheim, Germany/Feudenheim Gymnasium Mannheim) scored her first career game-winning goal with the first tally last Friday at LIU.
- The Broncs rank third in the country in penalty corners drawn per game. Rider averages 8.44 per contest.
- Rider is out-shooting its opponents 233-164 on the year. The Broncs ripped 15 shots in both of their wins last week.
- The Broncs lead the all-time series against Merrimack 3-0. The Warriors have yet to reach the NEC Tournament since joining the conference ahead of the 2019 season, winning just four games in their four seasons at the Division I level.
- The season finale for Merrimack, the Warriors look to play spoiler and keep the Broncs from securing the NEC Championship.
- Abby Allen has scored seven of Merrimack's 20 goals on the season.