Rider defeats Niagara in First Round of Women's Soccer Championship
MAAC Sports
Lawrenceville, NJ – Fourth seeded Rider University defeated fifth seeded Niagara University, 4-1, in the first round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Women’s Soccer Championship at Ben Cohen Field on the campus of Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.
In the first frame, Rider broke a scoreless contest late in the half at the 44th minute on a goal from sophomore forward Alanna McDougall on an assist from junior forward Caroline Healy. Rider would take the 1-0 advantage into the break. On the half, Rider had a 6-to-4 shot advantage heading into the locker room.
In the second half senior midfielder Hayley Besaw from Niagara received her second yellow card in the 54th minute leaving the Purple Eagles a man down for the remainder of the night. Rider capitalized off the ejection, scoring on a penalty kick from junior defender Heather Maierle, extending the Broncs led to 2-0. Niagara would respond in 64th minute on a goal from redshirt junior midfielder Kori Thorne with an assist from junior forward Laura Ortiz cutting the Purple Eagle deficit to 2-1. The goal was the first that the Broncs have given up on their turf all year. In the 73rd minute Rider pushed its lead back up to two goals when junior midfielder Priscilla Santos scored and extended the Broncs lead to 3-1. Rider’s fourth and final goal of the night came at the 76th minute mark when junior forward Caroline Healy scored on a header off an assist from freshman forward Victoria Kealy giving the Broncs the 4-1 advantage.
Winning goalkeeper Bethany-May Howard finished the night with one save, while Niagara goalkeeper Claire Feiertag had three saves in the Purple Eagles loss.
Rider advances to the semifinals of the Women’s Soccer Championship which will be held at Monmouth University on November 6. The opponent for Rider will be determined after the second first round game concludes tomorrow