Rider University Athletics

Lori Hussong joined the Rider athletics staff in 2000 as the field hockey head coach and enjoyed nothing but success before her retirement following the 2022 season. The six-time Northeast Conference Coach of the Year (2022, 2020-21, 2011, 2009, 2005, 2003), and Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Coach of the Year (2013), Hussong has led 12 of her Rider teams to either an NEC Championship (2022, 2020-21, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2004, 2002, 2000), a MAAC Regular Season Title (2013) or an NEC Regular Season Title (2022, 2020-21, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2005, 2003, 2001) and all 23 teams qualified for the conference playoffs (MAAC/NEC) with 13 reaching the conference title game. Hussong and the rest of the Rider staff were selected as Mid-Atlantic Coaching Staff of the Year following the 2020-21 season.

Hussong compiled a 294-151 record, ending her career with a .661 winning percentage. With the first win of the 2019 season, Hussong became the 15th active NCAA Division I field hockey head coach with 250 career victories.

In 2022, Hussong and the Broncs earned both the NEC Regular Season and Tournament Championship, advancing to the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Kaitlyn Tomas was named NEC Defensive Player and Goalie of the Year before being named the NEC Tournament MVP. Indy Zoontjens was selected as NEC Rookie of the Year. Fellow First-Team All-NEC selection Valeria Perales earned Second Team NFHCA All-Region honors after finishing fourth in the country in points per game. Sierra Giuliano was also named First-Team All-NEC. Kiki van Ommeren, Lyric Scott, and Maeve Riehman each earned Second-Team All-NEC honors.

The Broncs fought to the four-seed in the NEC Tournament during the 2021 season. Julia Divorra was named NEC Offensive Player of the Year for the third consecutive season, leading the post-season honors for the Broncs. Divorra also earned NFHCA All-Region honors and was named to the NFHCA Senior All-Star Team. Joining Divorra on the First-Team All-NEC was forward Carly Brosious, midfielder Tess van Ommeren, and defender Kiki van Ommeren. Sierra Giuliano was a Second-Team All-NEC selection.

In the 2020-21 season, the Broncs won both the NEC Regular Season and Tournament titles, advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. Six players earned All-NEC honors, led by NEC Player of the Year and NEC Offensive Player of the Year Julia Divorra. Divorra would go on to earn NFHCA First-Team All-Region honors. Tess van Ommeren also earned All-Region honors after being named to the second team. Hussong and her staff capped the season by being named the NFHCA Mid-Atlantic Coaching Staff of the Year.

In 2019, Rider went 13-7 and earned the No. 2 seed in the NEC Field Hockey Tournament thanks to posting a mark of 5-1 in conference action. The Bronc defense posted three shutouts during and Hussong saw five players earn All-NEC honors. Julia Divorra was tabbed as the NEC Offensive Player. Divorra, Carly Brosious, Tess Coorens and Tess van Ommeren all earned First Team All-NEC honors, while Kaitlyn Flemming landed on the All-NEC Second Team. For their play in the NEC Tournament, Tess van Ommeren, Lena Vandam and Brittany Romanczuk were named to the NEC All-Tournament Team. 

Rider advanced to their 12th NEC Championship Game after blanking LIU, 3-0, in the NEC Semifinals. 

In 2018, Rider went 11-8 and qualified for the MAAC Tournament as the No. 2 seed thanks to posting a 4-1 mark in league play. The Bronc defense posted four shutouts during the year. Rider saw sophomore Lena Vandam tabbed as the MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year for the second year in a row. Vandam, freshman Carly Brosious and junior Tess Coorens all earned First Team All-MAAC honors, while freshman Tess van Ommeren, senior Jessica Randazzo and sophomore Kaitlyn Flemming all earned Second Team All-MAAC distinction. For their play at the MAAC Tournament, both Vandam and senior Alison Amen were named to the MAAC All-Championship Team. 

During the regular season in 2018, Rider had the MAAC Defensive Player of the Week five times, the MAAC Rookie of the Week three times and one player recognized as the MAAC Offensive Player of the Week. The Broncs had freshman Carly Brosious named the Synapse Sports Division I National Rookie of the Week, Tess Coorens was once named to the Synapse Sports Division I Weekly Honor Roll and Lena Vandam was once named to the Longsteth/NFHCA Division I Weekly Honor Roll. 

In 2017, Rider finished 8-11 and qualified for the MAAC Tournament for the 18th consecutive season. The Bronc defensive back line posted five shutouts and surrendered just over 1.50 goals per game. During the season, four different Rider freshmen were honored by the league with weekly awards. Freshman goalkeeper Lena Vandam was named the MAAC Defensive Player of the Week three times throughout the campaign and following the year she landed on the All-MAAC First Team as well as earning MAAC Co-Goalkeeper of the Year honors. Two other Broncs earned First Team All-MAAC recognition and two other Rider players were named to the All-MAAC Second Team.

In 2016, Rider (10-9) won four of their last five conference games to secure their 17th straight conference playoff appearance. An untimed goal by freshman Alice Otterson sent the game to overtime against nationally-recognized Monmouth, who had beaten the Broncs 3-2 in Lawrenceville just three weeks prior. A goal in the second overtime for the Hawks gave Monmouth a 3-2 win again, eventually sending them to the NCAA tournament. Nevertheless, the play of rookie Daane Koch earned her All-MAAC 1st Team and MAAC Rookie of the Year. Five more players earned All-MAAC 1st or 2nd Team berths, making it 24 times a Rider athlete has earned a spot in four seasons of MAAC field hockey. Eight student-athletes also earned spots on the MAAC All-Academic Team.

In 2015, Rider (12-7) opened the season 4-0.  The Broncs overcame a 1-2 start in conference play and won three straight including the last two games on the road by identical 1-0 scores to clinch a playoff berth for the 16th year in a row.  The Broncs advanced to the MAAC semifinals, losing to Quinnipiac 3-2 on a penalty corner with no time left on the clock.  Five players earned All-MAAC First or Second Team honors and the Broncs continued their strong work in the classroom with nine recognized with MAAC All-Academic honors and 15 recognized by the NFHCA for their high grade point average while Rider was one of 63 teams nationally to earn team academic recognition.

In 2014, Rider (11-9) advanced to the MAAC Title Game losing at Monmouth after qualifying for the conference playoffs for the 15th year in a row.  During the season, the Broncs enjoyed a five-game winning streak which culminated in the number two seed in the MAAC playoffs.  Hussong recorded milestone win number 200 at Towson University on September 21, 2014.  Rider claimed MAAC Co-Goalie of the Year honors (Joelle Prettyman) and a total of six players earned All-MAAC honors.

In 2013, Rider (13-7) won the inaugural MAAC Regular Season Title with a 5-1 record before the Broncs lost in the conference semifinals 1-0.  The Broncs also claimed the MAAC Player of the Year (Sandra Penas) and MAAC Rookie of the Year (Nicole Hareau).

In 2012, Rider (15-6) won its fourth NEC Regular Season Title in a row and its third NEC Championship, advancing to the NCAA Play-In game at Massachusetts where the Broncs lost in overtime 2-1.

In 2011, Rider (19-2) opened the season 4-0 before losing at Hofstra.  The Broncs did not lose again until the NCAA Play-In game at Princeton as Rider won 15 straight times enroute to both the NEC Regular Season Title and NEC Championship.  Rider took home the NEC Player of the Year award for the third season in a row with the Broncs also winning the Offensive Player of the Year award as Hussong was named NEC Coach of the Year for the fourth time. 

In November 2011, Hussong was recognized at the 37th annual Trenton Select testimonial dinner for her career accomplishments and was also voted the Rider Department of Athletics Coach of the Year with her team named the Rider Department of Athletics Team of the Year for the fifth time and second year in a row (2011-12, 2010-11, 2005-06, 2004-05, 2002-03).

In 2010, after a 3-3 start, Rider realed off 13 straight wins enroute to a 16-4 record and won the Northeast Conference championship game 1-0 over Monmouth after going undefeated in NEC play for the second year in a row.  The Broncs advanced to their fourth NCAA Play-In game under Hussong, losing in the snow at Albany 2-1.  For the third season in a row, Rider took home NEC Rookie of the Year Honors and for the second year in a row, NEC Player of the Year honors.  Just as important was how Rider played enroute to the championships with the team earning the NEC Sportsmanship Award for field hockey.

In 2009, Rider opened the season 13-0 enroute to a 17-2 record and went 8-0 in Northeast Conference play, advancing to the NEC semifinals while leading the nation in goals against average (0.65).  Hussong, who was named NEC Coach of the Year for the third time, had a player named rookie of the Year for the second season in a row (Marlaine Schneider, 2009) with 2008 Rookie of the Year Virginia Egusquiza named NEC Player of the Year in 2009.  For the second year in a row, five players earned All-NEC honors with 11 players honored for academics by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA).

In 2008, Hussong was 13-7, 6-1 in the NEC, and coached five All-NEC players including conference Rookie of the Year Virginia Egusquiza who was named to Spain's U21 National team.  In total, 14 of the players on the 2008 roster earned NEC All-Academic honors.

In 2007, Hussong earned her 100th career win, a 1-0 NEC victory over St. Francis, Pa., as the Broncs placed second in the conference with a 6-1 record.

As strong as the team has been on the field, the student-athletes have been even sharper in the classroom. The team had the highest grade point average of all Rider teams for the Spring 2009 semester, extending that streak to four semesters in a row.  The Broncs were one of only 43 teams nationally that received recognition for academics from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association.  Overall, the team has had the top grade point average at Rider six times since 2004.

"We are really proud of the team's academic accomplishments," said Hussong.  "They work extremely hard both on the field and in the classroom.  One of our goals in each semester is to try to do the best you can in whatever you're doing, so they are certainly getting that life lesson."

In 2005, Hussong guided the Broncs to the NEC Regular Season Title with a 7-1 conference record en route to a 14-6 season and to the conference championship game, earning her Coach of the Year honors.  Off the field, the team compiled the highest team GPA of the 20 varsity teams at Rider for the Fall 2005 semester.

In 2004, Hussong was chosen to coach the National Field Hockey Coaches Association North/South Senior All-Star Game, after guiding Rider to the seventh best win-loss record in Division I (18-3). Her 2004 squad ranked in the Top 10 in scoring defense (6th at 0.94), scoring offense (10th at 3.06) and margin of victory (9th at 2.12).

Hussong took over a team that had an RPI of 75 and achieved an all-time high of 29 during the 2004 season. 

"More important than the championships and the accolades are the relationships, friendships and support we are sharing," said Hussong, a wife and mother of three. "Our program is a 'family' now and that makes our work as coaches so rewarding and enjoyable that we can't help but to pour our hearts and souls into it. The players we recruit are quality students, athletes and people. We love to watch them grow and mature and exude what we know as 'Rider Pride'."

A 1984 graduate of Trenton State College, Hussong came to Rider from West Windsor-Plainsboro High School, where she is currently in her 27th year as a physical education teacher and coached field hockey for 13 years.  At West Windsor-Plainsboro, Hussong led her squads to nine Colonial Valley Conference Championships, three Central Jersey Group IV Sectional Championships, and one Mercer County Championship.  At West Windsor-Plainsboro, Hussong compiled a coaching record of 192-57-11.  As a player at Trenton State, Hussong was named to the NCAA All-Decade team for the 1980s. Hussong was a member of the 1981 and 1983 National Championship teams, earning NCAA All-Tournament team honors in 1982 and 1983. She was named a Penn Monto Division III All-American in 1983.

Hussong originally hails from Cinnaminson, and played varsity field hockey and softball for Cinnaminson High School before graduating in 1980. Hussong was inducted into the Cinnaminson Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002.

Hussong and husband (assistant coach Dan Hussong) are the parents of three children; Michael, Colby and Tommy.

Lori Hussong - Rider Coaching Record

!-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Regular Season (MAAC) Champions
&-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament (MAAC) Champions
@-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Playoffs
^-Northeast Conference (NEC) Regular Season Champions
%-Northeast Conference (NEC) Tournament Champions
#-Northeast Conference (NEC) Playoffs
$-NCAA Play-In
*-NCAA Tournament