Hussong pleased with Rider’s talent

With 10 returning players who saw plenty of playing time in 2015 and 11 talented newcomers, the Rider field hockey team could be in for a productive season.

“We have really liked how this team gets along and works so hard together,” said veteran coach Lori Hussong, whose Broncs open the season Friday at Lehigh. “Blending girls from all over the world is a challenge, but because the returners are so accepting, it has gone very, very well.”

Rider is coming off a 12-7 season and will be looking toward veterans Kalyn O’Brien, the team captain, Allison Baligian, Carlie Spaeder, Carlota Alsina, Jessica Randazzo, Melissa Cunningham, Kesheal Henderson, Lauren Bock and Alison Amen to set the tone.

Baligian and Alsina were named to the AllMAAC preseason team and the Broncs were picked to finish third in the coaches’ poll behind Fairfield and Monmouth.

Baligian led the Broncs with 13 goals, including four game winners, and Alsina led the team in assists with seven. Spaeder caged 10 goals.

One challenge for O’Brien and the upperclassmen is adjusting to the different cultures as the Broncs have players from six countries outside the United States.

Alsina hails from Spain, freshman Voirrey Baker is from the British Isles, freshmen Tess Coorens and Daane Koch are from the Netherlands, Leigh Maxwell-Smith, a graduate student who played at Hofstra, is from Canada and freshman Alice Otterson is from New Zealand.

Maxwell-Smith joins 10 freshmen to make up the group’s newcomers.

“We have compiled one of the most talented recruiting class ever,” said Hussong. “This group is one of the richest in talent that we have ever brought into our field hockey family.

“They are athletically and academically strong, but, more importantly, they bring sparkling personalities and enthusiasm which is going to make it so much fun to work with them.”

After opening against Lehigh, the Broncs head to Towson to complete the opening weekend.

“Getting off to a good start would be nice, but we want to focus on how we finish,” said Husson. “Our pattern at Rider has been consistent in that we play our best at the finish. We will have to work hard to have to continue that will this group.”