LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University field hockey team continued its hot start to the season Sunday afternoon, defeating Colgate, 5-1, on Ben Cohen Field. The win moves the Broncs to 2-0 on the young season, while the Raiders fall to 1-1.
 
Rider scored early and often, getting on the board less than a minute into the game when Abby Hartwell (Monroeville, NJ/Delsea Regional) played a long ball into the circle that Valeria Perales (Madrid, Spain/IES Mirasierra) tapped into the cage for her third of the season. Less than a minute later, Lyric Scott (Union, NJ/Union) got behind the Colgate defense and was tripped by the Raider goalie, drawing a penalty stroke that Sierra Giuliano (Franklinville, NJ/Delsea Regional) converted to put Rider up 2-0.
 
Early in the second, Giuliano made a centering pass, finding Perales for her second of the game. Perales would complete the hat trick just before the end of the half, scoring after a long entry pass by Berta Tutusaus (Matadepera, Spain/Escola Montcau La Mola).
 
Midway through the third quarter, Perales appeared to extend the lead in middle of the third, beating the Colgate goalie twice, but Rachel Alderfer made a pair of defensive saves to keep the Broncs off the board. The Broncs would not continue to be denied as Hartwell made a steal then entered the circle and ripped a shot to extend the lead to 5-0.
 
Colgate scored with just under two minutes remaining to break up the shutout and close out the scoring.

Quotes & Notes
"I'm not really thinking about the game. I just go out and have fun."
 
"My teammates make great passes, and I just take advantage." – Freshman forward Valeria Perales
 
"I appreciate the faith my teammates and coaches have in me to fit any role, so I just do my best in whatever situation they put me in. My entire four years here, I've been moving all over the place."
 
"This freshmen class has taken our program to a whole other level. They listen to our leadership, and we are able to learn just as much from them as they have from us." – Senior Midfielder Sierra Giuliano
 
"Our passing has never been better during my time at Rider. The ball is moving down the field and we are letting the ball do the work with our passing. Everybody's ready to do their job, and if everyone's ready to do their job the game gets easier."
 
"I am really proud of our effort, and we will continue to get better every game."
 
"Our four captains have been amazing, Kiki, Maeve and Kaitlyn on the defense, and Sierra at the midfield have done a great job of bringing this team together. The freshman class, every single one of them is capable of producing. It's great to be able to turn to your bench and not see any drop in level of production." – Head Coach Lori Hussong
 
- Rider now leads the all-time series 16-12, and has taken 11 of the last 12 over the Raiders.
- Rider has improved to 2-0 for the third-straight season.
- Kaitlyn Tomas (Campbellville, Ontario/Appleby College) made five saves to earn the victory in goal.
- Kiera Guckavan (Middletown, PA/Middletown Area), Kiki van Ommeren (Amsterdam, Netherlands/Montessori Lyceum Amsterdam), and Meg Normile (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt) played all 60 minutes in the win.
- Perales is the 125^th player to score five goals in a single season in program history.


Broncs By The Numbers
- The Broncs out-shot Colgate 21-7, including a 14-6 advantage in shots on goal.
- Rider earned seven corners, to just five for the Raiders.
- Perales has now scored five goals in her first two career games.
- Giuliano has tied her career-high for goals in a season with her second of the year.
 
Up Next
- The Broncs remain home at Ben Cohen Field for a meeting with Appalachian State on Friday at 7 p.m.