LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. - The Rider Broncs used two early second-half goals and then three goals in the latter stages to win 5-0 over Fairleigh Dickinson on Thursday night.
It was Fairleigh Dickinson's (1-2) worst loss since losing 6-0 to Stony Brook back in 2013.
Both sides had chances to score in the first half by
Amanda Fitzgerald (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) of Fairleigh Dickinson and Bethany May-Howard of Rider made saves when called upon.
"We did not take advantage of the ball in the first 25 minutes. Made a couple simple mistakes that turned an even game into a three-goal game,' said head Coach
Eric Teepe postgame. "We would rather have these problems now than later in the season."
Sofia Soares got Rider (1-1) up 1-0 in the 48th minute with a header. Kourtney Cunningham provided the assist for Soares.
The Broncs struck again in the 60th minute from Ellie Smith off a cross from Cunningham that found Smith inside the six-yard box. It was Cunningham's second assist of the game.
Meghan Griffin (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) made a bid to get the Knights on the board in the 62nd minute but pushed her shot wide.
Smith added to her tally when she found a loose ball inside the 18-yard box and made it 3-0 Broncs in the 72nd minute. Rider then scored twice in less than two minutes. Bethany Feinstein made it 4-0 then Smith completed her hat trick off a corner to make it 5-0.
The Knights tried to get back into the game once Rider went ahead. When the score 1-0 Rider,
Connie Lewis (Outer Cove, Newfoundland/Gonzaga ) hit the crossbar with her shot in the 54th minute.
Daria Jones (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) tried to make it 2-1 Rider in the 66th minute with a header off the corner but Bethany May-Howard made the save.
Teepe added, "Getting Connie back on the field was good for us. She created very good chances and hit the bar in the second half. Amanda was not at fault on the goals and made some key saves for us early."
Lewis pushed a shot wide in the 63rd minute and then again in 67th when the score was 2-1.
Rider held an 18-9 advantage in shots.
Fairleigh Dickinson returns to action on Thursday, September 1 at Colgate.
