Rider puts end to five-game spiral
By Michael Mack
The women’s soccer team played two games last weekend, claiming their first victory in the conference in four games as well as putting an end to their five-game losing streak.
Prior to this weekend, the team struggled in conference play and it showed in its 0-2 MAAC record.
However, the team managed to bounce back from a 4-0 loss to the Manhattan Jaspers on Friday in order to pick up its first conference win over St. Peter’s on Sunday.
Friday’s hard-fought loss, in which sophomore goalkeeper Alex Post collected four saves, may have served as motivation for Sunday’s win.
The women looked more than ready for their first conference win when they entered the field Sunday to take on the Peahens of St. Peter’s.
Senior Kayla Devlin found the back of the net with an assist from senior Erin Mahar with five minutes left in the first half to give the Broncs a 1-0 lead.
“Kayla got herself in the right positions to put the ball in the net,” Head Coach Drayson Hounsome said to Rider Sports Information.
The Peahens tied it up at one goal apiece halfway through the second half.
The two teams stayed locked at this score until the last two minutes of the game. When the Broncs needed someone to step up, it was Devlin once again. Devlin scored on a header from a cross from freshman Samantha Andrea.
“Sam dribbled down the line and played a cross in from the left and I ran far post and headed it in,” Devlin said to Rider Sports Information. “I don’t think I ever scored on a header before, but it is something we practice.”
For Devlin it was her third goal of the season and ninth of her career.
From there the Broncs were able to hold on to pick up their first MAAC win this season 2-1.
Even though Rider was out shot by St. Peter’s 17-14, Post, who ranks 11th in the nation with 7.72 saves per game, kept the team in the game with eight saves.
The team now holds a 1-3 record in the conference and a 2-9-2 record overall.
The first win within the conference may be just the thing the team needed to boost their confidence and turn their season around.
Next up for the Broncs is another MAAC contest at home against the defending conference champion Greyhounds of Loyola tomorrow at 1 p.m.
