HAMILTON, NY – The Rider University field hockey team was dominant, opening the season with a 5-1 victory at Colgate Friday evening in the season opener for both teams.
 
The Broncs struck first late in the first quarter when Semra Said (Mannheim, Germany/Feudenheim Gymnasium Mannheim) stole possession in the attacking third then made a pass to graduate transfer Katie Wuerstle (Schwenksville, PA/Perkiomen Valley[Kent St.]), who was already in the circle and beat the goalie one-on-one to open the scoring.
 
Late in the second, the Broncs took advantage of a corner opportunity when a scramble in front led the ball finding the stick of Olivia Machiavelli (Madrid, Spain/International School Sek el Castillo). The freshman found the back of the cage in her collegiate debut to extend the lead to 2-0. It would not remain a two-goal lead for long, as the Broncs continued to apply pressure to the Raiders' defense when Said once again earned possession and entered the circle. She fired a shot that was deflected by the Colgate goalie to extend the lead to 3-0.
 
After a scoreless third quarter, the Broncs would once again score in the fourth off the corner. After Machiavelli made the insert to the top where it was stick stopped by Pauli Thiele (Pullach, Germany/Otfried Preussler Gymnasium Pullach), Megan Normile (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt) delivered a shot that deflected off a Raider stick in into the net, making it 4-0. After Colgate ended the shutout with just under five minutes remaining, the Rider penalty corner unit struck again. When an initial save put the ball on the stick of Machiavelli, the freshman went to the reverse chip for her second of the game to produce the final score.

Quotes & Notes
"The team played as a cohesive unit and followed the game plan." - Head Coach Alicia Govannicci

- Rider's lead in the all-time series extends to 17-13.
- The Broncs have won five-straight season openers.
- Jade Regnart (Cape Town, South Africa/Fairmont) got the start in net, playing all 60 minutes and making two saves to get the win in her collegiate debut.
- In addition to Regnart and Machiavelli, Anna Finn (Windsor, NY/Windsor Central), Sam Connolly (Havertown, PA/Cardinal O'Hara), Amanda Walker (Stockton, NJ/Hunterdon Central), and Bella Mele (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee[UMass Lowell]) all made their collegiate debuts.
- Normile, Machiavelli, Emma Bonshak (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall), and Wuerstle played all 60 minutes in the field for the Broncs.

Broncs By The Numbers
- The Broncs out-shot Colgate 28-4, including a 22-3 edge in shots on goal.
- Rider earned 13 corners to just three for the Raiders.
 
Up Next
- The Broncs come home for a game Sunday, when they host Mercyhurst to begin NEC play in what will be the first-ever Division I game for the Lakers. Game time is set for 12:00 p.m.