FAIRFIELD, CT – Bryan Akongo (London, England/Harris Academy Orpington [Georgia State/Robert Morris]) scored his team-leading sixth goal of the year to break a scoreless deadlock in the 78th minute as the Rider University men's soccer team earned a 1-0 road win at Fairfield Saturday night. With the win, the Broncs' third-straight, Rider moves to 9-4-0 (3-1-0 MAAC), snapping the Stags' (2-7-3, 1-1-1 MAAC) five-match unbeaten streak.
Following a scoreless first half that featured a pair of Adam Salama (Ramle, Israel/Orthodox [Ottawa Univ.]) saves, the Broncs finally broke through with Akongo's tally in the 78th minute. Adel Al Masude (Brussels, Belgium/GO Lyceum Gent) rocketed a low shot toward the left post that Fairfield keeper Viktor Nikolov got his fingertips on to steer it off the woodwork. But Aknogo was there for the finish on one touch for the difference in the match.
Quotes & Notes
"Really proud of the players tonight. We knew it would be a tough test with the way Fairfield has been playing in their last five games. Andrew Erickson and Theo Da Silva were fantastic tonight. We were solid in the back and found a goal at the right time. Great result on the road." – Rider Head Coach Chad Duernberger
- Since upsetting the top-seeded Stags in the 2018 MAAC Semifinals, the Broncs have gone 6-0-2 in eight tightly-contested matches against Fairfield to cut the Stags' lead in the all-time series to 20-14-3.
- Salama finished with three saves in the Broncs' fifth clean sheet of the season.
- A Broncs defender also cleared a shot off the goal line for a fourth save for the team.
- Salama,
Cole Sotack (Doylestown, PA /Central Bucks East [Rutgers]),
Jack McGeechan (Allendale, NJ/Northern Highlands Regional),
Martin Chladek (Prague, Czech Republic/Gymnazium Voderadska [Montevallo]),
Momo Diop (Thies, Senegal/Prive Serigne Touba),
Theo Da Silva (Sao Paulo, Brazil/University of Rio Grande),
Andrew Erickson (San Antonio, TX/International School of the Americas [Kentucky]) and
Max Schrader (Cherry Hill, NJ/Scholar Athletes Leadership Academy) each played all 90 minutes.
Broncs By The Numbers
- Akongo scored for the second-straight game to push him into a tie with Diop for the team lead with six. The two points broke a tie with Diop, giving Aknogo the team lead with 16.
- Both teams took 10 shots, with the Broncs taking a 5-4 edge in shots on goal.
- Rider took six corner kicks to the Stags' four.
- Each team was cautioned twice.
Up Next
The Broncs return to MAAC action Saturday, Oct. 26, when they play host to Siena on Alumni Night. Kickoff from Ben Cohen Field is scheduled for 7 p.m. on BroncVision.
