STATEN ISLAND, NY – The Rider University field hockey team got an overtime winner from Valeria Perales (Madrid, Spain/IES Mirasierra) to defeat Wagner and clinch a spot in the NEC Tournament Friday afternoon, winning 4-3. The Broncs finish the regular season at 8-9 overall and 5-4 in NEC play, while the Seahawks close out the regular season 7-11 overall and 6-3 in league games.
 
After both sides had numerous chances in the first overtime but could not find the game-winner, the second overtime played out with both sides playing more conservative. The Broncs earned a penalty corner with just under three minutes to play in the second extra session. Perales made the insert for the Broncs to the top where it was stick stopped by Semra Said (Mannheim, Germany/ Feudenheim Gymnasium Mannheim) and Anna Finn (Windsor, NY/Windsor Central) passed to Megan Normile (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt), who pushed a shot toward the cage that Perales deflected past the Wagner goalie and into the net to give the Broncs the win.
 
Following a scoreless first period, the Broncs broke through first in second. After the ball was played back to the Wagner goalie, her clearing attempt was controlled by Perales, who calmly scored in the exposed net to give Rider the early lead. Wagner quickly responded with a goal of their own on a penalty corner, but the Broncs would pull ahead once again. Perales made the insert on a Rider corner where the ball was played to Finn. Finn blasted a shot that was deflected by Emma Bonshak (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) into the back of the cage to give the Broncs a 2-1 lead at the half.
 
In the third quarter, the Seahawks would once again find the equalizer, but the Broncs would quickly retake the lead. Rider got possession into the circle and on to the stick of Perales. Her initial shot was saved, but the rebound found the stick of Martina de Cespedes (Málaga, Spain/Novaschool Sunland International), who scored past the field player left in the cage.
 
Rider would maintain the lead until late in the fourth quarter, when Wagner would convert on a penalty corner with just over four minutes to play. Neither side would have a meaningful chance, sending the game to overtime and setting up Perales' heroics.
 
Quotes & Notes
- Rider takes back the lead in the all-time series, now leading 4-3.
- Jade Regnart (Cape Town, South Africa/Fairmont) made the start in net, playing all 77 minutes and making five saves to earn the win.
 
Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider outshot Wagner, 14-12, but both teams finished with shots on goal.
- The Seahawks earned seven corners, while the Broncs finished with five.
- Perales' pair of goals gives her 13 on the season and 51 for her career, moving her into a tie for fifth in program history with Kerri Robertson '95 and Megan Pisani '12.
- Bonshak's goal is her sixth of the season and eighth of her career.
- De Cespedes' goal is the first of her career.
 
Up Next
Rider earned the fourth seed in the upcoming NEC Tournament and will play host and top-seeded Fairfield Thursday.