Lacrosse drops two more, adding to Broncs’ longest losing streak in history

By Samantha Clark

After entering Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play over spring break, Rider lacrosse pushed their losing streak to 11 straight games with a 17-9 loss against Manhattan University and a 17-2 loss to Mount Saint Mary’s University, marking the longest scoreless run in program history. 

Falling in the fight 

The Broncs hosted Manhattan on March 25, which kicked off with an almost-immediate goal from the Jaspers, who made contact with the net just 15 seconds into play. 

Graduate student draw specialist Marissa Ross attempted a goal, but it fell too wide, and after a foul from sophomore defender Kayla Vazquez, the Jaspers were allowed a free position shot, putting the Broncs down 2-0 after the first three and a half minutes.

Multiple sets of turnovers and failed draw controls from Rider put Manhattan ahead by five goals, until the Broncs put up back-to-back goals from graduate student attacker Kayleigh Colleary and junior attacker Maggie Hance. 

With an assist from sophomore attacker Brynn Merklinger, one more goal from Hance closed the first quarter with the Broncs trailing 5-3. 

Similar to the first, the second quarter opened with a mere-immediate Manhattan goal to widen the gap to three goals. The Broncs quickly bounced back by adding two in under 30 seconds from Colleary and sophomore defender Hannah Kozik.

The Jaspers responded with two of their own, but both teams followed with eight and a half straight minutes of unsuccessful play, until Hance cashed in the final of the first half, setting the Broncs back 8-6.

Rider did not score a single goal until the final minute of the third quarter, allowing Manhattan to hold them to a 5-0 run in the opening 14 minutes of the second half. 

Not only did the Broncs not score until the final minute, but there was also not a single goal attempt on Rider’s end until Colleary’s successful one, sending the Broncs into the final quarter down 13-7.

Junior midfielder Marybeth Smith put up the first goal of the fourth, but the Jaspers responded with   four of their own.

A steal and assist from freshman defender Ally Basile allowed for Ross to break the Broncs’ drought, scoring the final goal of the game, marking a 17-9  loss for Rider.

“I try to stay as positive as possible, keep the energy up and stay aggressive. We’ve seen throughout the season that we have the ability to go on runs, so we continue to keep our heads up and keep looking for those opportunities,” Colleary said.  

Bump on the road

The Broncs then headed to Emmitsburg, Maryland, to face Mount Saint Mary’s on March 28, where they were challenged with a heavy offense and defense, leading to their 11th straight loss.

Rider did not score a single goal in the first 15 minutes, allowing the Mountaineers to put up a score of 4-0 after the first quarter. Goals from Kozik, Hance, Colleary and sophomore midfielder Madi Eollo were attempted, but all fell short, contributing to the scoreless quarter.

Mount Saint Mary’s scored their fifth goal to open the second, but Colleary responded four minutes later with the Broncs’ first goal of the game, her 15th of the season. 

However, to close the second quarter, the Mountaineers put up six goals in a row, the Broncs heading into the break trailing 11-1.

More of the same was seen in the second half, as Mount Saint Mary’s opened the third quarter by adding two more goals to the scoreboard. 

After a foul from the Mountaineers, Smith was given a free position shot, allowing her to record Rider’s second and final goal. Two more from Mount Saint Mary’s sent the Broncs into the fourth quarter down 15-2.

In the final 15 minutes, sophomore goalie Avery May only allowed two goals from the Mountaineers, saving two and the rest falling too wide, ending the Maryland matchup down 17-2.

“Adversity is part of the process,” Head Coach Paige Frye said. “Our players continue to support each other, keep competing, and trust that if we stick to our standards, we can be proud of the product we are putting on the field.”

The Broncs look to pick up their first win since their season opener on Feb. 6 when they host Fairfield University on April 1 at 3 p.m. and Niagara University on April 4 at 1 p.m.