Monday, Aug. 25, 2025
Rider Broncs (0-1-0, 0-0-0 MAAC) vs. Lehigh Mountain Hawks (0-0-1, 0-0-0 Patriot)
Location: Lawrenceville, NJ – Ben Cohen Field
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Live Video: BroncVision
Live Stats: GoBroncs.com

What You Need To Know
- The Rider University men's soccer team plays host to Lehigh Monday night in its home opener on Ben Cohen Field.
- The Broncs fell at Villanova, 5-0, over two days, Aug. 21 and 22 due to an active shooter alert less than 20 minutes into regulation on the 21^st.
- The Broncs and Mountain Hawks renew their series, which dates back to 1969. Lehigh took a 1-0 win last Aug. 26 in Bethlehem, scoring off a free kick in the 43^rd minute. The Broncs' last win over Lehigh came in 1995. Lehigh holds a 19-15-4 lead in the all-time series.
- The Mountain Hawks finished 6-10-3 (4-4-1 Patriot) last season and were picked sixth in the 2025 Patriot League Preseason Coaches' Poll.
- Lehigh played La Salle to a 1-1 draw in its season opener on Thursday. Bora Turker scored for the Mountain Hawks in the 44^th minute, but La Salle returned the favor in the penultimate minute of the second half to salvage the tie.
- Ben Collins got the start in goal for the Broncs vs. Villanova and made two saves.
- Bobby Lucien, Leo Arndt, Lovro Kostanjsek, Xavi Csato, Ricky Joasilus and Kaelan Debbage made their first starts in their debuts for the Broncs at Villanova. Gio Polizzi, Ryan Vaubel, Drew Heil and Landon Lackner also came off the bench to make their first appearances for the Broncs.    
- The Broncs have won the 2023 MAAC Tournament Championship and earned a share of the 2024 MAAC Regular Season Championship in Head Coach Chad Duernberger's two seasons leading Rider. Rider's 26 wins over the last two seasons rank ninth in NCAA Division I after he inherited a three-win team from 2022.
- Rider was picked second in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, behind only Iona. The Broncs and Gaels have met in each of the last two MAAC Championship Games, with Rider taking the 2023 contest and Iona earning an overtime victory in 2024.
- Senior midfielder Theo Da Silva was named MAAC Preseason Co-Player of the Year after earning All-MAAC Second Team honors in his first year with the Broncs last year. Da Silva started 16 of 17 games played, scored three goals and dished out five assists, tying for the team lead and good for fifth in the MAAC.
- Sophomore defender Max Schrader joined Da Silva on the Preseason All-MAAC Team after starting all 19 matches played on the Broncs' back line in his freshman campaign, playing 90 or more minutes 16 times and no fewer than 76 minutes in any match. He played a total of 1,688 minutes on the season, serving in an invaluable role on a Rider defense that allowed just 14 goals, posted a 0.69 goals-against average (3rd – NCAA) and 10 shutouts (.500 shutout percentage – 4th – NCAA), all league bests.
- Rider owns a 5-3 lead in the all-time series with Villanova. However, the Wildcats have won the last two meetings, most recently taking a 2-0 win in the 2021 season opener. Rider's last win over the Wildcats came on a Christian Flath golden goal with two seconds remaining in the first overtime in 2016.
- The Broncs have had eight All-MAAC selections in each of the last two seasons, establishing and repeating the program record. Lost from last year's squad are MAAC Golden Boot recipient Momo Diop (transferred to Marshall) and MAAC Golden Glove honoree Adam Salama (transferred to San Diego), along with five other graduated seniors. Da Silva, who earned Second Team honors, is the lone returner.
- The Broncs' six MAAC Championships are second-most in conference history and most by a current member (Loyola (Md.) – 12). Loyola had won eight-straight MAAC titles prior to the Broncs joining the league in 1997, at which point Rider snapped the Greyhounds' streak and won consecutive championships (1997, 1998). The Broncs' six titles edge Fairfield's five for most among current members.