FAIRFIELD, CT – Graduate midfielder
Ethan Shaw (Surf City, NJ/Northern Burlington [St. John's]) scored the first two goals of his collegiate career, both off
Saad Chaouki (Montreal, Quebec/Antoine de Saint Exupery) corner kicks as the Rider University men's soccer team earned a 2-1 road win at Sacred Heart Tuesday night. With the win, the Broncs' second-straight, Rider improves to 2-1-0, while the Pioneers fall to 1-3.
Following a scoreless first half, Chaouki and Shaw connected twice in the second half, in the 47
th and 68
th minutes. On the first, Chaouki's corner kick found Shaw's head at the top of the six-yard box and Shaw headed it low inside the near, left post. In the 68
th minute, from the opposite corner, Chaouki again found Shaw in nearly the same place and Shaw headed it underneath the crossbar for the 2-0 lead.
In the 88
th minute, Sacred Heart was awarded a penalty kick following a collision in the box off a corner kick that Olliver Persson converted on to cut the deficit in half. But it was too little, too late, as the Broncs came away with the 2-1 victory.
Quotes & Notes
"Really proud of how the boys battled tonight. We had a very slow start and not the first half we had hoped. We couldn't get it going in the run of play the way we like to. Certainly a better second half and we found two goals off set pieces. It was a gritty effort and happy we could get a win on the road." –
Rider Head Coach Chad Duernberger
- The win gives Rider consecutive victories for the first time since the 2021 MAAC Championship Quarterfinals and Semifinals.
- The Broncs and Pioneers met for the first time in the two programs' histories.
-
Angus Kenson (Riverton, NJ/Scholar Athletes Leadership Academy) made his Rider debut in the starting line-up.
- After missing last game at Saint Joseph's, 2021 MAAC Offensive Player of the Year
Zaki Alibou (Meknes, Morocco/Meknes) returned to the starting lineup and played 63 minutes before being sent off with a straight red card for dissent in the 89
th minute.
- Goalkeeper
Adam Salama (Ramle, Israel/Orthodox [Ottawa Univ.]) picked up his second-straight win in net, making four saves. The penalty kick goal was the only blemish on his record and he hasn't allowed a goal in the run of play in his last 190 minutes played.
- Salama,
Jack McGeechan (Allendale, NJ/Northern Highlands Regional),
Martin Chladek (Prague, Czech Republic/Gymnazium Voderadska [Montevallo]),
Momo Diop (Thies, Senegal/Prive Serigne Touba),
Sebastian Rojek (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills [Stony Brook]) and Shaw each played all 90 minutes.
- It was the third-straight 90-minute effort for Salama, Chladek, Rojek and Shaw.
Broncs By The Numbers
- Following four years without a goal scored at St. John's, Shaw scored his first two collegiate goals in the second half.
- Chaouki's two assists were also the first of the freshman's collegiate career.
- For the game, the Pioneers outshot the Broncs, 17-7. However, both teams put five shots on target.
- The Pioneers took 10 corner kicks to the Broncs' three.
- Both teams were issued a yellow card, while Alibou's was the lone red of the game.
Up Next
- The Broncs return to action Friday, Sept. 8, when they travel to Newark, NJ, to take on NJIT. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
