LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University field hockey team got a dominant win on senior night, topping LIU 6-2 on Ben Cohen Field. The Broncs improve to 7-6 on the season, and 4-2 in league play, while the Sharks fall to 1-12 overall and 1-4 in League games.
 
Late in the first quarter, the Broncs opened the scoring. On a penalty corner, Anna Finn (Windsor, NY/Windsor Central) saw her initial shot get blocked, but Semra Said (Mannheim, Germany/Feudenheim Gymnasium Mannheim) was able to get the ball to the stick of Valeria Perales (Madrid, Spain/IES Mirasierra) who punched the ball into the back of the cage. It took just 33 seconds for Perales to get a steal in the midfield, break through the LIU defense and rip a shot that got to the back of the net, extending the lead to 2-0.
 
Just over six minutes into the second quarter it was Perales making the centering pass that a diving  Emma Bonshak (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) was able to guide into the cage, extending the Rider lead to 3-0. Four minutes later it was the Rider penalty corner back at it. The Broncs got the ball to Bonshak, who saw her shot get saved, but her put back attempt was deflected in by Said, giving Rider a 4-0 lead it would take to the half.
 
Early in the third quarter the Rider penalty corner unit converted again. The Broncs worked the ball toward the post an on to the stick of Perales. Her reverse hit was deflected in by Bonshak to extend the Rider lead to 5-0.
 
The Sharks got a goal in the third and another midway through the fourth to close to within 5-2, but with under two minutes to play Said had another shot that Perales deflected in to produce the final score.
 
Quotes & Notes
"All week we've been working hard, we knew this was a must-win game. We had a lot of obstacles this week, but we managed to get the job done. I've learned this year to stay calm, which sometimes, for me is very difficult, but staying calm and keeping the team on task, keeping them focused is what's most important."
 
"It was cool to watch [the seniors] grow from freshman and tonight, they had a great display of field hockey. More importantly, they grew in to strong women. And Coach Dan, Coach Lori, myself, and the last two years Coach Alicia, we had at least a small part in that, and that's more important tan anything is being a mentor and watching the girls grow up and be happy." – Head Coach Gina Carey-Smith
 
"I tried to give it my best, because it was the last time [at home]. Thanks to all of the people who came and made it one of the best game's I've ever played in. I feel so confident, having my mom here watching me. Having someone close to go see after the game, it just gives me more energy."
 
"There have been ups and downs, but at the end of the day, [the senior class] are so close, and we wanted to give everything for each other." – Senior Forward Valeria Perales
 
- Rider's lead in the all-time series extends to 8-1.
- Prior to the game the team honored its outgoing senior class of Said, Perales, and Megan Normile (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt)
- Jade Regnart (Cape Town, South Africa/Fairmont) made the start in net, playing all 60 minutes and making seven saves to earn the win.
- Ang Borisow (Harleysville, PA/Souderton) and Kate Mahmud (Downingtown, PA/Downingtown West) played all 60 minutes in the field.
 
Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider outshot LIU, 17-10, including a 12-9 edge in shots on goal.
- The Broncs earned 13 corners in the game, to nine for the Sharks.
- Perales' hat trick, gives her 11 goals on the season and 49 in her career. She also moved into seventh in career points at Rider with 116, passing both Julia Divorra '22 and Megan Pisani '12 tonight.
- Bonshak's pair of goals gives her four on the season and six for her career.
- Said's goal gives her six for the season and 19 for her career.
 
Up Next
Rider returns to action Sunday with a trip to Fairfield for a 1 p.m. game.