STATEN ISLAND, NY – The Rider University field hockey team advanced to the NEC Championship Game on Sunday with a 2-0 win over Saint Francis University Friday morning. The top-seeded Broncs move to 14-5 on the season, while the fourth-seeded Red Flash close out the season at 8-12.
 
After a scoreless opening quarter, Saint Francis had their best shot of the game on a corner midway through the second, but Maeve Riehman (Norristown, PA/Archbishop Carroll) was on the post for the defensive save.
 
Rider finally broke through in the second. Valeria Perales (Madrid, Spain/IES Mirasierra) made the corner insert to Indy Zoontjens (Hilversum, Netherlands/Alberdingk Thijm College). Zoontjens initial shot was blocked and the rebound made its way to the stick of Sierra Giuliano (Franklinville, NJ/Delsea Regional). Giuliano took a shot that was saved, but the rebound fell to the stick of Perales who beat the Red Flash goalie for the game's opening goal. Rider took the 1-0 lead into the half.
 
The Broncs tacked on another early in the third. Perales drove down the middle of the field before playing a pass to the right to Giuliano. Giuliano made a centering pass that found the stick of Semra Said (Mannheim, Germany/Feudenheim Gymnasium Mannheim). Said deked around the goalie and finished to extend the lead to 2-0.

Quotes & Notes
"We played very smart today. Saint Francis is a good team, we knew their big balls up the middle would be hard to handle, but we had a game plan to stop it."
 
"We're going to keep things consistent. Both teams are amazing teams and it's going to come down to who wants it more on Sunday." – Head Coach Lori Hussong
 
"The passing was the key today. We moved the ball and it set up our goals. We're going to keep playing hard, moving the ball, making passes, have fun, and win." – Freshman Forward Valeria Perales
 
- Rider leads the all-time series 21-3. The Broncs get revenge for the lone conference blemish on their record from the regular season.
- Rider has won 10-straight games.
- Kaitlyn Tomas (Campbellville, Ontario/Appleby College) made three saves to earn the shutout win, her fifth solo shutout of the season.
- Perales' goal is her 19^th of the season, extending her Rider freshman record. The total ranks sixth in a single season in program history. Her 46 points, also most ever by a Rider freshman, ranks fifth in program history.

Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider outshot Saint Francis 16-6, including a 9-4 edge in shots on goal.
- Rider earned 11 corners, while the Red Flash earned six.
- Said's goal is her ninth of the season.
- Giuliano's assist is her 10^th of the season.
- Riehman's defensive save is her second of the season and seventh of her career. Her seven defensive saves are the seventh-most in program history.
 
Up Next
- The Broncs will play in the NEC Championship game on Sunday at 12 p.m. The Broncs will take on the winner of the second semifinal featuring the second-seeded Seahawks of Wagner and the third-seeded Stags of Fairfield.