Broncs fall before MAAC play starts
By Rocco Schirripa
The women’s soccer team lost in one of their last non-conference games in preparation for MAAC play.
The Broncs fell to Vermont 5-2 on the Catamounts’ territory on Saturday, Sept. 27.
“It’s a team sport, but if everyone doesn’t perform to the best of their ability, we’re going to give up goals,” Head Coach Drayson Hounsome said to Rider Sports Information.
Rider went straight out on offense and scored the first goal of the game, taking a 1-0 lead a little after the 2:30 mark in the first half. Sophomore Lauren Musumeci got the assist with perfect setup pass into the box, where it was sent home by fellow sophomore Kara Perkoski.
But Vermont took no time to retaliate, scoring three goals by the half to take a 3-1 lead over the Broncs. Two of those goals were scored by Emily Perrin, as the momentum seemed to shift into Vermont’s favor.
The Broncs didn’t stay quiet for long though, as Musumeci hit another perfect kick into the box, this time for junior Stacy Belgiovene to tap into the net. For Musumeci, it was her second assist on the day, making the score 3-2.
But even with the Broncs’ greatest efforts, the Catamounts scored less than a minute later making the score 4-2.
“After their first goal the momentum seemed to shift and we didn’t get it back again,” Musumeci said to Rider Sports Information.
Vermont outshot Rider 25-23, and sophomore goalkeeper Alex Post made seven saves on the day. Post is currently ranked 13th nationally in saves per game.
“We had some great performances and we had some people who didn’t perform,” Hounsome said to Rider Sports Information. “We have to correct that.”
This was the last game before conference games officially begin and the Broncs’ last “home” game was moved to TCNJ’s artificial turf field. Rider will be utilizing its own turf field in 2009, including the men’s and women’s soccer teams and the field hockey team.
“It would have been nice to be at home, but the field certainly is not an excuse for allowing five goals,” Hounsome said to Rider Sports Information.
The Broncs open up conference play today at home against Fairfield, the top team in the conference, at 4 p.m.
