LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Lovro Kostanjsek (Domzale, Slovenia/Gimnazija Domzale) scored his team-leading fourth goal of the season, but the Rider University men's soccer team was edged by MAAC Regular Season Champion Sacred Heart, 2-1, Saturday afternoon on Ben Cohen Field. The Pioneers (8-3-4, 7-0-2 MAAC) clinched the outright league title with the win, while the Broncs fell to 1-11-4 (0-6-3 MAAC).

A pair of costly turnovers by each team resulted in a 1-1 deadlock at the half. Broncs goalkeeper Marius Helias (Saint Florentin, France) slipped and was dispossessed just outside the box by Ivan Morcillo in the 13^th minute and Morcillo finished off the right post and to put the Pioneers on top early. The Broncs answered in the 27^th minute. Applying pressure to the Pioneers' back line, Ricky Joasilus (Providenciales, Turks & Caicos [UTRGV]) stole the ball away and fed quickly to Kostanjsek, who finished from just inside the top of the box inside the left post for the equalizer.

After the first 37 minutes of the second half went scoreless, the Pioneers would score the game winner in the 83^rd minute. Carlos Gonzalez Palau controlled Danny Istambouli's corner kick into the box, before making a sliding attempt from just outside the six-yard box for the game winner.

Quotes & Notes
(On his message to the seniors on Senior Day) "I just told them after the game, we've won titles together. We've struggled together. Really, what it comes down to is brotherhood and family. I love these guys, through the fun and the tough times. This group has stuck together. Hate to see some guys go. They've worked really hard for me, whether it be over three years, two years, one year… they've put everything in I could ever ask for."  – Rider Head Coach Chad Duernberger

- Marius Helias (Saint Florentin, France) played all 90 minutes in goal for the Broncs, making six saves.
- Sacred Heart earned its first win over the Broncs in three tries, cutting Rider's lead in the all-time series to 2-1.
- Helias, Max Schrader (Cherry Hill, NJ/Scholar Athletes Leadership Academy), Kostanjsek, Theo Da Silva (Sao Paulo, Brazil/University of Rio Grande), Xavi Csato (Stuart, FL/The Pine School [Stetson/UNC Greensboro]), Landon Lackner (Perry Hall, MD/Loyola Blakefield [St. John's]) and Kaelan Debbage (Queensland, Australia/Kawana Waters State H.S. [Spring Arbor Univ./Gardner Webb]) each played all 90 minutes.
- Following the match, the Broncs honored their 10-member senior class of Kostanjsek, Da Silva, Joasilus, Debbage, Kirilenko, Christian Graham (Goshen, NY/Shattuck St. Mary's [North Florida/Dayton]), William Baker (New York, NY/The Calhoun School [Rutgers]), Sebastian Suber (Kirkland, WA/O'Dea), Ethan Gregory (Oakton, VA/Oakton [Maryland]) and Ben Collins (Wellington, New Zealand/Wellington College).

Broncs By The Numbers
- The goal was Kostanjsek's team-leading fourth of the year, while also giving him a team-high 10 points.
- The assist was the first of Joasilus' Division I collegiate career.
- Sacred Heart took a 14-9 edge in shots, including an 8-5 edge in shots on goal.    
- The Pioneers took 13 corner kicks to the Broncs' four.     
- Rider was cautioned once, while Sacred Heart was not shown a yellow card.     

Up Next
The Broncs wrap up the 2025 season Wednesday, when they travel to Mount St. Mary's for a 7 p.m. kickoff from Emmitsburg, MD.