PHILADELPHIA – The Rider University field hockey team found itself in another overtime contest Friday evening, ultimately falling 3-2 at Drexel. The Broncs fall to 3-4 on the season, while the Dragons improve to 5-3.
 
The Dragons got on the board just under three minutes into the game, when a counterattack got behind the Broncs' defense and got a one-on-one opportunity with the goalie.
 
Rider responded midway through the quarter on a penalty corner. The Broncs made the insert and got the ball to Meg Normile (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt) at the top left of the circle. Normile ripped a shot that was deflected by Maeve Riehman (Norristown, PA/Archbishop Carroll), then redirected by Valeria Perales (Madrid, Spain/IES Mirasierra) for her seventh goal of the season.
 
Drexel would quickly counter on a corner of their own, taking back the lead late in the first. The Dragons would hang on to the lead through the half.
 
Midway through the third, the Broncs got a flurry of corners. Finally, the Broncs broke through. Perales made the insert to reigning NEC Rookie of the Week, Indy Zoontjens (Hilversum, Netherlands/Alberdingk Thijm College). Zoontjens ripped the shot for her second goal in as many games, tying the game at 2-2 where the game remained through the end of the period.
 
Late in the fourth, Drexel got a shot that got behind the Rider goalie, but Kiki van Ommeren (Amsterdam, Netherlands, Montessori Lyceum Amsterdam) made a defensive save to keep the game tied and send it to overtime.
 
After earning a corner in extra session, Drexel was stopped by the Broncs, but the Dragons stole Rider's clearing attempt and scored quickly on the counter-attack to take the win.

Quotes & Notes
"I was very happy with the team's performance, other than not scoring more goals than them. The bottom line is we need to score more. When we have that many chances, we need to score more goals."

"The freshmen are blending in, and with each game they are getting stronger and stronger. You look at Semra, she played a really strong game today. In addition, on the defensive side, Kaitlyn made some really amazing saves and Kiki had an awesome defensive save. Games like this will really prepare us for the conference schedule." - Head Coach Lori Hussong

"I am getting more into the team, I am feeling more comfortable and getting used to playing in America. We've been better on the front line after continuing to play together."

"This has been great experience, and we will be prepared when it's time for the conference season." - Freshman Midfielder Indy Zoontjens

- Drexel extends its lead in the all-time series to 16-10-2.
- Three of Rider's four losses this season have come by one goal, with two coming in overtime.
- Kaitlyn Tomas (Campbellville, Ontario/Appleby College) made the start in net, making a career-high 10 saves.

Broncs By The Numbers
- The Broncs were out-shot by Drexel 19-17, and the Dragons held a 15-13 edge in shots on goal.
- Rider earned 13 corners, while the Dragons earned nine.
 
Up Next
- The Broncs remain on the road for a game Sunday at Georgetown. Game time is set for 1 p.m.