Rider ready for MAAC Tournament
Heading into Wednesday’s regular-season finales in the MAAC, the Rider women’s soccer team was still unsure of it’s firstround tournament opponent.
But whoever it is, the Broncs should at least be well prepared with what they want to do.
Rider (9-5-3, 6-3-1) finished its regular season with a 1-0 loss at Fairfield Saturday. Prior to Wednesday’s action the Broncs were in third place with 19 points. Marist (16 points), Quinnipiac (15) and Canisius (15) had locked up the final three tournament berths but the order of finish — which decides Rider’s first-round foe — depended on Wednesday’s outcomes.
One thing was certain, Rider could finish no lower than fourth and will have a first-round home game against one of those three teams this Saturday at 7 p.m.
“I’m proud that the team was able to lock up a playoff position and a home field game in the playoffs already,” coach Drayson Hounsome said. “With a week’s preparation for the playoff game we have the optimum time and practice opportunities to be ready — something that we have only had once this season. Having not practiced for a month we have been able to work on many things this week that will help our team performance in Saturday’s match.”
Saturday’s winners will play top-seeded Monmouth or 2nd-seeded Siena at Monmouth on Nov. 4, with the finals being Nov. 6 in West Long Branch.
One of the keys to the Broncs’ fourth straight tournament appearance (and sixth in the past eight years) has been the increased scoring output from junior forward/midfielder Ellie Smith. After collecting seven goals and 11 assists in her first two seasons combined, Smith has eight goals and five assists this year. Three of her goals have been game-winners.
“Ellie has exceptional balance on the ball and an ability to dribble with the ball at pace in tight areas which is rarely seen,” Hounsome said of her ability to finish. “This allows her to put herself in positions inside the penalty area and in good goal scoring positions.
Smith is one of several players from England on Rider’s roster. She was a four-time Player of the Year in high school at Norwich City, and played club for the first team of Norwich F.C., of the English Premier League.
Two of her four goals as a freshman came in the Broncs 2-1 MAAC tournament win over Siena. She dipped to three goals and five assists last season but played in only 11 games as her season was curtailed by an assortment of health issues.
“She was carrying multiple injuries, and being out with an injury meant she was unable to train, which obviously affects every aspect of performance — technical, decision making, timing, etc.,” Hounsome said.
Smith has played in all but two matches this season, but is still forced to play with some pain due to where she is at on the field.
“The nature of her position and running at players at pace with the ball unfortunately means she gets fouled significantly more than some other players,” Hounsome noted. “So at the late stages in the season there are some residual effects of the continued kicking and landing heavily on the turf.”
Smith has been consistent, having picked up at least one goal in five games and at least one assist in five others. When she has not scored, others have picked up the slack as Caroline Healy, Michelle Iacono, Kourtney Cunningham, Heather Maierle and Sofia Soares all have two or three goals.
“Everybody is responsible for creating opportunities and taking shots,” Hounsome said. “It is always pleasing to see so many players scoring goals in a season.” this year.
In a battle of unbeaten, nationally ranked teams, the Robbinsville High grad assisted Liz Thorensen for the game’s only goal in a 1-0 victory over Stevens Tech last Wednesday. She followed with two second-half goals in a 5-1 win over Kean Saturday, which clinched a first-round bye in the NJAC tournament.
Abigail Emmert was honored as the conference’s Defensive Player of the Week, and also chipped in on offense with two goals against Kean.
TCNJ (14-0-1) entered Wednesday’s home showdown with Rowan with a 13-match winning streak and No. 5 ranking in the NSCAA Division III poll. The Lions were 8-0 and in first place, while Rowan (15-0-1) was ranked No. 10 and was 7-0-1 in the conference. A win or tie will have clinched the top seed in the tournament for TCNJ, while a win by Rowan will have given the Profs the top seed. trio of Tyler Lussi, Abby Givens and Mimi Asom, as the three combined for just 10 shots on goal in the three league losses.