Friday, August 26, 2022 / Sunday, August 28, 2022
Rider Broncs (0-0) vs. Bellarmine Knights (0-0) / Colgate Raiders (0-0)
Location: Lock Haven, PA / Lawrenceville, NJ
Time: 11 a.m. / 12 p.m.
Live Stats – GoLHU.com / GoBroncs.com
 
What You Need To Know
- Friday's season opener will be a neutral site game on the campus of Lock Haven University and Sunday's game will be the home opener.
- 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 22-straight years.
- Rider has won back-to-back season openers, defeating La Salle, 3-2, in overtime last season and LIU, 1-0, in the spring 2021 campaign.
- Of the five All-Conference performers the Broncs had last season, only Kiki van Ommeren (Amsterdam, Netherlands/Montessori Lyceum Amsterdam) and Sierra Giuliano (Franklinville, NJ/Delsea Regional) return for 2022.
- Other key returners in the field include Abby Hartwell (Monroeville, NJ/Delsea Regional), Maeve Riehman (Norristown, PA/Archbishop Carroll), Kiera Guckavan (Middletown, PA/Middletown Area), and Lyric Scott (Union, NJ/Union).
- Kaitlyn Tomas (Campbellville, Ontario/Appleby College) finished 8-3 in goal last season, ending the season with a 1.75 Goals Against Average and .692 save percentage.
- Rider's roster features players from six different countries, Canada, Germany, The Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, and the United States.
- The Broncs lead the all-time series against Bellarmine 1-0 after winning the first match-up between the programs 5-1 last season. Hartwell scored twice in that game on her way to earning NEC Rookie of the Week honors.
- Rider leads the all-time series over Colgate 15-12, including wins in 10 of the last 11 meetings. The Broncs claimed a 2-1 victory at Colgate last year.
- Bellarmine, now in its third season in Division I after reclassifying, finished 4-12 last season, but ended last season by winning three of its final four games, including a 6-2 season-ending victory over fellow NEC opponent Saint Francis.
- The Knights are led by Second-Team All-MAC selection Amber Hofenk Jerembo. The senior led the Knights with seven goals and 16 points last season.
- Colgate will be looking to a large incoming class, with 11 freshmen on the roster. The Raiders will need to replace All-Region performer Taylor Casamassa, who graduated after leading the team in scoring a season ago.