LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University women's lacrosse team got a program record six goals, four assists, and 10 points from Kylee Garcia (Neshanic Station, NJ/Somerville[FDU-Florham]), helping to defeat Marist, 19-15, Saturday afternoon on Ben Cohen Field. The Broncs move to 8-3 overall and 2-1 in MAAC games, while the Red Foxes fall to 3-7 overall and an equal 2-1 in MAAC contests.
 
The Broncs got on the board first with back-to-back goals by Toni Gismondi (West Deptford, NJ/West Deptford[VCU]) and after Marist scored to make it 2-1, Rider got goals from Garcia, Elena Bontatibus (Simsbury, CT/Simsbury), and Katie Walsh (Marlton, NJ/Camden Catholic[FDU-Florham]) all found the back of the net to give Rider a 5-1 advantage. Leading 5-3 later in the quarter, Garcia scored off a free-position attempt and then fed Selena Carrington (Toms River, NJ/Toms River North[Rutgers]) to extend the lead to 7-3. The Broncs led 7-4 after the first quarter.
 
In the second, Gismondi completed her hat trick and Carrington scored her second of the game, but a late Marist goal trimmed the Rider lead to 9-7 at the half.
 
Garcia took over early in the third, scoring twice and finding Carrington to complete her hat trick and push the Rider lead to 12-7 less than four minutes into the quarter. With the advantage narrowed to 12-10, Gismondi and Bontatibus each delivered goals, but again it was a late Marist tally that would make it 14-11 going into the fourth.
 
Leading 14-12, the Broncs scored five-straight goals, including two each from Garcia and Bontatibus along with a goal from Emily Wesoky (Sterling, VA/Dominion[Wagner]), extending the lead to 19-12. The Red Foxes did not go away quietly, scoring the game's final three goals, but were unable to complete the comeback.
 
Quotes & Notes
"Every time we win in conference, it's going to be big, especially as a first-year program. The thing I'm most proud of is we spent a lot of games having to fight back, not really playing how we played early in the season. That was a very large conversation for us the last couple of days and the way we came out is exactly going back to that way and plaing at a high pace and high speed."
 
"Katie was a large focus for them, which opened up things for Kylee, but everyone contributing with multiple hat tricks and multiple players with assists. It forces the defense to have to run and chase so our dodgers get more open and have more opportunities throughout the game." – Head Coach Evan Mager
 
"After a loss, our attitude changed. The team started working with me, our energy was up and everything fell into place. Today, I listened to the scout, knew it was a lefty goalie. I knew exactly where to shoot." – Graduate Student Attack Kylee Garcia
 
"In practice, that's the dodge I'm most comfortable with, so when I saw they were giving me the open lane, I just realized that I can take the opportunities that they're giving me. I'm getting adjusted, coming from high school, the speed of the ball is quicker, the speed of the plays are much quicker, but I'm starting to understand where the gaps are." – Freshman Attack Elena Bontatibus
 
- Jamie Kubach (Philadelphia, PA/William Penn Charter[FDU-Florham]) made the start in net, playing all 60 minutes and tied her own program record with 11 saves to earn the win.
 
Broncs By The Numbers
- Both teams had 32 shots in the game, and 26 shots on goal.
- The Red Foxes held a 23-14 edge in ground balls. Marybeth Smith (Macungie, PA/Emmaus[La Salle]), Hayley Henderson (Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.), Gaby Melendez (Victor, NY/Victor[Canisius/Central Connecticut]), and Gismondi each had two in the win.
- Rider won the draw circle 19-18. Walsh finished with eight draw controls and Henderson added six.
- Carrington and Anna Devlin (Marmora, NJ/Ocean City[TCNJ]) each had two caused turnovers.
 
Up Next
- Rider returns to action Wednesday when the Broncs visit Iona. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.