Saturday, August 26, 2023 / Sunday, August 27, 2023
Rider Broncs (0-0) vs. Central Michigan Chippewas (0-0) / Colgate Raiders (0-0)
Location: Hamilton, NY
Time: 3:00 PM
Live Stats: GoColgateRaiders.com
Broadcast: ESPN+ (Sunday Only)
 
What You Need To Know
- Saturday's season opener will be a neutral site game on the campus of Colgate University and Sunday's game will be a true road contest at the Raiders.
- The Broncs were picked to finish tied for second in the NEC Preseason Coaches Poll. Rider won the NEC Regular Season Championship and earned the top seed in the NEC Tournament a season ago before defeating Fairfield, 2-1, in overtime to secure the NEC title and advance to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three seasons..
- Rider has made the postseason 23-straight years, all under former head coach Lori Hussong, who retired following the 2022 season.
- Replacing Hussong is former Bronc Alicia Govannicci, who played under Hussong from 2010-13. Govannicci was an assistant coach at NEC-rival LIU for the past two seasons.
- Rider has won three-straight season openers, defeating Bellarmine, 4-1, last season, La Salle, 3-2, in overtime in 2021, and LIU, 1-0, in the spring 2021 campaign.
- Of the seven All-Conference performers the Broncs had last season, only Valeria Perales (Madrid, Spain/IES Mirasierra) and Lyric Scott (Union, NJ/Union) return for 2023.
- Perales also earned Second-Team All-Mid Atlantic Region honors after putting together one of the best seasons in program history as a freshman, scoring 20 goals and 49 points, one off the program record in both categories.
- Other key returners in the field include Kiera Guckavan (Middletown, PA/Middletown Area), Semra Said (Mannheim, Germany/Feudenheim Gymnasium Mannheim), Megan Normile (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt), Alyssa Hoffmann (Mechanicsburg, PA/Cumberland Valley), and Brynne Miller (Blue Bell, PA/Wissahickon).
- With the departure of NEC Goalie and Defensive Player of the Year, Kaitlyn Tomas, the Broncs will turn to a new starting net minder. Returning options Carlee Fulton (West Chester, PA/West Chester) and Brooke Golbeski (Jamison, PA/Central Bucks West) are joined by incoming freshman Moira Geiger (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddonfield).
- Rider's roster features players from four different countries, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, and the United States.
- The Broncs lead the all-time series against Central Michigan 1-0 after winning the only other game between the programs, 3-0, in 2009.
- Rider leads the all-time series over Colgate 16-12, including wins in 11 of the last 12 meetings. The Broncs claimed a 5-1 victory over Colgate last year behind a hat trick from Perales.
- Central Michigan was 2-16 last season, including a 6-2 setback at the hands of fellow NEC opponent Saint Francis. Colgate finished 3-15 last season, including the loss to the Broncs.
- The top returner for the Chippewas is Kate Biglin. The senior led the team with nine goals and 23 points in 2022.
- Colgate will be led by Second-Team All-Patriot League performer Ella Murphy. Murphy led the Raiders with six goals, five assists, and 17 points a season ago.