LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – William Baker (New York, NY/The Calhoun School [Rutgers]), Momo Diop (Thies, Senegal/Prive Serigne Touba) and Dylan Kotch (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) scored second-half goals as the Rider University men's soccer team earned a 3-0 win over Mount St. Mary's Wednesday evening on Ben Cohen Field. With the win, the Broncs (12-4-1, 6-1-1 MAAC) claimed a share of their second-ever MAAC Regular Season title, their first since Rider's inaugural year in the league of 1997. Mount St. Mary's fell to 3-10-4 (3-3-2 MAAC).

The Broncs outshot The Mount, 8-1, in the first half, but couldn't find the back of the net in the opening 45 minutes. Rider had a goal taken off the board in the 8^th minute by an offside call after Bryan Akongo (London, England/Harris Academy Orpington [Georgia State/Robert Morris]) finished in front off a Jack McGeechan (Allendale, NJ/Northern Highlands Regional) cross. In the 38^th minute, the Broncs had a direct free kick just outside the top of the 18-yard box, but Adel Al Masude's (Brussels, Belgium/GO Lyceum Gent) attempt to the left post was saved. 32 seconds later, Cole Sotack's (Doylestown, PA /Central Bucks East [Rutgers]) shot hit the crossbar.

Mount St. Mary's had a chance at the close of the period, with Adam Salama (Ramle, Israel/Orthodox [Ottawa Univ.]) misplaying the ball well outside of the box and Junee Lee taking possession in the attacking third. But Lee couldn't get a shot off as the Rider defense retreated.

The second half began with a shot going into the same net as Akongo's nullified goal, but this time it was Mount St. Mary's being whistled for being offside off a set piece into the box in 51'. The Broncs finally broke the deadlock in the 58^th minute, as Baker and Theo Da Silva (Sao Paulo, Brazil/University of Rio Grande) worked a give-and-go into the box, with Baker finishing to the near, left upper 90. Less than five minutes later, Diop beat a defender into the box before finishing low, left to right inside the right post for a 2-0 lead.

The Broncs weren't done, however, as senior Kotch put a bow on Senior Night with a strong individual finish collecting a ball cleared high in the air, dribbling just inside the box and curling a right-footed shot around a defender and inside the left post for a 3-0 lead at 73:26.  

Quotes & Notes
"I thought we started a little slower than I wanted to the game in the first half. I thought the second half, we started to look more like ourselves with just with the pressure - not even the goals, just the pressure all over the field. We put together a good second half and I'm really happy with the overall performance and overall regular season and obviously Co-Champion situation. I don't think we've been part of any title as a champion since 1997. It's been a while and I'm happy we could achieve that." – Rider Head Coach Chad Duernberger

- The Broncs have now won consecutive matches against Mount St. Mary's to close the Mountaineers' lead in the all-time series to 7-6-0.
- The Broncs claimed a share of their second MAAC Regular Season Championship and their first since their inaugural season in the MAAC of 1997.
- Rider shares the title with Iona, which defeated Saint Peter's, 4-0, Wednesday. By virtue of a 1-0 win on Sept. 28 in New Rochelle, Iona takes the top seed in the MAAC Championships, while the Broncs claim the second seed. Both teams are guaranteed home games in the MAAC Championships through the semifinals, should they advance.
- Salama made one save to secure Rider's program-record eighth shutout of the season. The eighth clean sheet eclipses the seven kept by the 1997, 2015 and 2023 Broncs teams.
- Salama, Martin Chladek (Prague, Czech Republic/Gymnazium Voderadska [Montevallo]), Theo Da Silva (Sao Paulo, Brazil/University of Rio Grande) and Andrew Erickson (San Antonio, TX/International School of the Americas [Kentucky]) each played all 90 minutes.
- Following the game, the Broncs honored their 11-member senior class on Senior Night. The class is comprised of Diesel Fiore (Las Vegas, NV/Bishop Gorman [Eastern Univ.]), Marc Wharfe (Maraval, Trinidad and Tobago/Northwood School), Kevin Peprah (Boyds, MD/Northwest), Sotack, Tom Skrocki (Havertown, PA), McGeechan, Akongo, Erickson, Chladek, Kotch and Diop.

Broncs By The Numbers
- Diop's goal was his team and MAAC-leading ninth of the season, while his 22 points also pace the MAAC.
- Baker and Kotch both scored their first goals of the year. Kotch's goal was his second as a Bronc.
- Da Silva's assist was his fourth of the year, tied for second on the team with Diop behind only Akongo's five.
- Rider took a 20-5 edge in shots, including an 8-1 margin in shots on goal.
- The Broncs took eight corner kicks to the Mountaineers' three.
- Mount St. Mary's was cautioned once, while Rider not shown a yellow card.   

Up Next
The Broncs return to action Sunday, when they open MAAC Championship play with the quarterfinals at 2 p.m. Rider's opponent will be determined by Wednesday's 6 p.m. kickoffs – Siena at Marist and Manhattan at Sacred Heart. Stay posted to GoBroncs.com at @RiderMensSoccer on X for all the latest updates.