LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – In a dramatic and pivotal matchup under the lights on Wednesday night, the Rider women's soccer team ended their season with a 1-1 draw against Mount St. Mary's, a result that eliminated both teams from contention for the eighth and final seed in the MAAC tournament. With a playoff spot hanging in the balance, both teams entered the game knowing that only a win would keep their postseason hopes alive. The Broncs end the season 4-9-4 overall and 3-6-3 in MAAC play.

The match began with a tense, scoreless first half, as both sides fought hard to gain the upper hand but were unable to break through. Rider controlled much of the play, but solid defensive efforts kept the scoreboard quiet heading into halftime.

After the break, the Broncs came out strong and quickly found the back of the net just four minutes into the second half. Noa Menzing struck in the 49th minute, giving Rider a 1-0 lead and putting them in position to claim the final playoff spot. The goal energized Rider, who continued to apply pressure throughout the second half.

Despite Rider's offensive momentum and dominance in shots, outshooting Mount St. Mary's 19-11 overall, the Mountaineers remained resilient. They managed to keep the deficit at one and earned a crucial corner kick in the closing moments of the game. In the 88th minute, disaster struck for the Broncs as Mount St. Mary's capitalized directly off the corner, with the ball curling into the net to get the Olimpico and tie the match 1-1.

With just minutes left, Rider scrambled to find a game-winner, but despite a flurry of late chances, they couldn't convert in the final two minutes. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, a result that dashed both teams' playoff aspirations. Although Rider had the edge in total shots, the Mountaineers finished with a slight 9-7 advantage in shots on goal.

This frustrating result marked the end of the season for the Broncs, who will now turn their focus to next year, hoping to build on their performance and return stronger in the future.

Quotes and Notes
"It's heartbreaking for sure. You're about 90 seconds away from making the playoffs and things are falling your way and all we got to do is get it over the line. You got to give credit to them though, you're winning 1-0 and they keep pushing and pushing and they forced a corner and anything can happen in those set pieces. The team's chemistry is outstanding and the culture and great. If you've got a strong team and a strong culture, you can get through the tough times throughout the season. I'm proud of the team's resilience for sure this season." – Rider Head Coach Drayson Hounsome 

- This is the first time in 11 years that the Broncs missed the MAAC tournament.
- The Broncs and Mountaineers are now 4-2-2 in all-time series history.
- Sciancelpore, Jordyn Allen, Amanda Mendez, Bethie Morgan, Courtney Carter, and Vala Sigurjónsdóttir all played the full 90 minutes. 

Broncs by the Numbers
- Tess Ferrie led the Broncs with four shots in the game. 
- Amanda Mendez, Courtney Carter, and Vala Sigurjónsdóttir each recorded three shots in the contest. 
- Ava DeGeorge and Margret Fridriksson had two shots.
- Sciancelpore racked up eight saves.