Broncs suffer two losses on the road

By Kadie DiGiuseppe

High off their opening game-shutout victory over Colgate University, Rider field hockey fell short in two games. Still on the road, the Broncs were defeated by Hofstra University in shootouts 3-2 and then faced a devastating 7-1 loss to Monmouth University. 

Shootout snub

The Broncs faced a different opponent on Sept. 5 compared to their 3-0 win in the season opener at Colgate. 

In Hempstead, New York, senior defender Megan Normile put Rider on the board just over three minutes into the game for her first goal of the season.

The rest of the first quarter was back and forth between the Lions and Broncs with neither side taking a shot until the second quarter. 

Junior midfielder Ang Borisow added her second goal of the season in the second quarter and put the Broncs in front 2-0. 

The Lions were not going to go down without a fight before halftime and scored their first goal with nine minutes left in the second quarter. 

Both offenses went quiet in the third quarter with Hofstra not allowing Rider to take a single shot during the quarter. 

Still trailing behind the Broncs, the Lions opened the fourth quarter shooting and finally got one to go in with less than six minutes left in regulation. 

Rider did not get any goals for the rest of the fourth, forcing overtime. Though the Broncs could not get many shots off in regulation, Normile, Borisow and sophomore forward Anna Finn both got the first shots in overtime. 

Rider and Hofstra both got six shots each on goal but all were unsuccessful, forcing double overtime. 

“Overall, I think we played together, we played as a unit and we stuck together as a team which showed in overtime,” said senior forward Semra Said. 

Borisow, Finn and senior forward Valeria Perales all had opportunities to end the game but were stopped once again by Hofstra. 

For the first time since 2018, the Broncs headed to shootouts where they ultimately finalized their 3-2 deficit. 

“We were up by two for two quarters and we just took our foot off the gas, which is typically something we don’t do,” said Head Coach Gina Cary-Smith.

Sophomore starting goalie Jade Regnart added 12 saves during the loss. “She worked really hard and was able to keep a lot of goals out of our cage,” said Perales. 

Wash in West Long Branch

On Sept. 7, Rider traveled to West Long Branch to take on a known difficult opponent; the Monmouth Hawks. 

The Hawks took the first few hacks at goal which prompted the Broncs offense to step up though it was not until junior forward Emma Bonshak was able to meet the back of the cage just 12 minutes in. 

Rider led 1-0 until just before halftime Monmouth scored two quick goals, gaining the lead. 

After halftime, the Hawks locked in on scoring, obtaining four more goals in the first 10 minutes of the second half. 

Trailing 6-1, Rider allowed the final goal of the game less than 10 minutes left in regulation. 

Despite allowing seven goals which was the most she was allowed since becoming a Bronc last season, Regnart made 12 saves during the game. 

Rider will face Drexel University in Philadelphia on Sept. 12 before entering the Northeast Conference the following week.