Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025
Rider Broncs (1-5-1, 0-0-0 MAAC) vs. Canisius Golden Griffins (2-3-1, 0-0-0 MAAC)
Location: Lawrenceville, NJ – Ben Cohen Field
Kickoff: 12 p.m.
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: GoBroncs.com

What You Need To Know
- The Rider University men's soccer team opens league play, leading off a men's and women's MAAC soccer doubleheader vs. Canisius at noon Saturday.
- The Broncs earned a 3-0 win over George Washington on Sept. 1 for their first win of the season. Lovro Kostanjsek scored twice and added an assist in being named Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week Honorable Mention. Bobby Lucien scored a goal and added an assist and was named MAAC Rookie of the Week.
- Rider has fallen in each of its last three matches, including one-goal decisions at NJIT (Sept. 6) and at Saint Joseph's (Sept. 9). Most recently, the Broncs fell at perennially-powerful Georgetown, 3-0, on Sept. 13.
- Gio Polizzi leads the Broncs this season with three goals and six points. Kostanjsek's five-point performance vs. George Washington puts his second on the team in goals (2), assists (1) and points (5). Xavi Csato's two assists are a team best.
- Three goalkeepers have seen action for the Broncs this season, with Marius Helias (3.00 GAA, .760 saves percentage starting the most recent two. Helias made 13 saves at Georgetown, marking the most saves by a Rider goalkeeper in more than a decade. The last time a Bronc stopped more than 10 shots was a 12-save performance by Ryan Baird vs. Vermont in the 2016 NCAA Tournament First Round. The 13 saves fall well short of Ed Adams' Rider-record 37 saves vs. Army in 1953.
- Yoav Arikha has also started four matches, posting a 1.25 GAA and .706 saves percentage. Ben Collins started the opener at Villanova, making two saves, while allowing five Wildcat goals.   
- Rider leads the all-time series with Canisius, 16-10-3. The Broncs and Griffs did not play in last year's eight-game schedule. The last time Rider and Canisius met on the pitch, the teams played to a 2-2 draw on Oct. 18, 2023.
- Canisius has won a pair of matches this season at VMI (Aug. 21) and in their last match, Sept. 17 vs. Mercyhurst. The Griffs also played Cleveland State (Sept. 6) to a 2-2 tie.
- Romero Nicolazzo and Gabriel Leslie has scored twice each for the Griffs, while Nicolazzo's one assist give him a team-high five points. Four others have one goal each.
- While Dom Dominguez and Preston Harold have each played 270 minutes in goal for Canisius this season, Dominguez played all 90 minutes last time out in a 3-1 win over Mercyhurst. He's posted a 1.33 GAA and .765 saves percentage to Harold's 3.00 GAA and .591 saves percentage.
- Gio Polizzi scored the Broncs' goal vs. Lehigh. Lovro Kostanjsek's strong individual effort got the Broncs into the 18-yard box, before crossing to Ezra Punselie, whose initial shot was deflected wide. Polizzi was ready at the right post for the rebound finish. Polizzi also added goals in a tie with La Salle (Aug. 29) and a 2-1 setback at Saint Joseph's (Sept. 9).
- 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.