LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University field hockey team opened NEC play with a convincing win Sunday afternoon, defeating Mercyhurst 7-0. The Broncs improve to 2-0 overall, while the Lakers drop their first-ever game as a Division I program.
 
The Broncs opened the scoring early in the first quarter on a corner. Ang Borisow (Harleysville, PA/Souderton) made the insert to Megan Normile (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt) at the top of the circle. Normile fired a shot that found the back of the net to put the Broncs on top early. Just two minutes later the Broncs again earned a penalty corner and it was Normile finding the stick of Lyric Scott (Union, NJ/Union) who scored to extend the lead to 2-0.
 
Early in the second, it was the Broncs again off a corner. Semra Said (Mannheim, Germany/Feudenheim Gymnasium Mannheim) played a centering pass that Scott deflected toward the cage. Borisow put a stick on the deflected ball to ensure it made its way to the back of the cage, extending the lead to 3-0. Later in quarter, Katie Wuerstle (Schwenksville, PA/Perkiomen Valley[Kent St.]) fired a shot that rang off the post, but Pauli Thiele (Pullach, Germany/Otfried Preussler Gymnasium Pullach) cleaned up the rebound to make it 4-0. Late in the half it was Thiele who drove down the baseline before firing a centering pass than made it all the way through to the opposite side of the circle and Anna Finn (Windsor, NY/Windsor Central) scored to give Rider a 5-0 lead at the break.
 
Following a scoreless third, the Broncs added another tally in midway through the fourth. After the Broncs earned a penalty stroke, Normile calmly stepped up and delivered her second goal of the game. Late in the game, the Broncs once again took advantage of a corner with Borisow inserting to Normile, who delivered a drive from the top of the circle, completing her hat trick.

Quotes & Notes
"I feel good. A lot of the leaders have stepped up and a lot of the younger players are coming along really quickly. We're growing together every game and learning from our wins, which is important. I see a lot of potential in this team. We're very well balanced and can do a lot of great things together." – Head Coach Alicia Govannicci
 
"We're not satisfied with these two wins. It's always good to start off conference play with the win, because you don't want to have to work from behind. We just have to keep going forward and keep going strong." – Junior defense Megan Normile
 
"In the Rider community it's very easy to find your people and everyone encourages you. [The upperclassmen] are all super helpful and encouraging. At practice we do a good job working on communicating and holding positions so you always have someone where the ball is going to be." – Freshman forward Anna Finn
 
- Today's game was the first-ever meeting between the new conference opponents.
- Jade Regnart (Cape Town, South Africa/Fairmont) got the start in net, playing all 60 minutes and making a save to get the win and her first career shutout.
- Jaime Haas (Burlington, NJ/Florence Township Memorial) and Hailey Hoffman (Washington, NJ/Warren Hills) made their collegiate debuts in the win.
- Normile played all 60 minutes in the field for the Broncs.

Broncs By The Numbers
- The Broncs out-shot Mercyhurst 49-2, including a 36-1 edge in shots on goal.
- Rider earned 24 corners to just three for the Lakers.
 
Up Next
- The Broncs continue the homestand Friday when they host Bellarmine at 4:00 p.m.