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Home > Women's Soccer > Archive > 2005 > September 30, 2005 - Siena 3 Rider 2

September 30, 2005 - Siena 3 Rider 2

September 30, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Women’s College Soccer

SienaCollege 3, Rider University 2

LAWRENCEVILLE—When discussing starting line ups, some coaches have been heard to say that “it doesn’t matter who starts the game, it is who finishes the game that counts.” On Friday freshman Jen Vroman (Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway) came in off the bench and scored twice for the Broncs in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game with Siena.

For Vroman, it was her first two collegiate goals. “It doesn’t matter if you start,” said Vroman, “you don’t have to start to score.” Vroman has played all 11 games for the Broncs, eight as a starter.  “Coming in off bench, I’m a little anxious, I can’t wait to get in, and I use as much energy as I can right away, having fresh legs off the bench.”

“Vro had a break out game today,” said Rider head coach Kevin Long.  “She’s taking the initiative, starting to understand what it takes to be successful at this level. She’s come a long way, as many of the freshmen have. She was still performing well at the end of the game, that’s why she was in there.”

Siena (7-4, 3-0 MAAC) took a 2-0 lead with 20 minutes left in the first half on goals by Susie Blaisdell and Chelsea Maguire.

Vroman shot the ball off a Siena defender to cut the lead to 2-1 with 59 minutes left to play. “To be honest with you I thought it was an own goal,” said Vroman, “but I’ll take it. The most important thing is we got on the board.”

Siena took a 3-1 lead in the 67th minute on a goal by Courtney Preziosi, but Vroman came back just a minute later and scored on a 30-yard direct kick to cut the lead to 3-2. “I just wanted to put it on frame, and it went in,” Vroman said.

The Broncs out-shot Siena 9-2 in the second half, and 15-8 for the game. “We’re starting to show that we are developing a sense of urgency out there,” said Long.  “We didn’t quit when we were down 3-1. The players came out better prepared in the second half.”

Rider sophomore goalkeeper Kim Carter (Chantilly, Va.) made two saves, while Patti Carroll made six saves for the Saints.

The Broncs had eight first-year players in the line up today. “There is still a learning curve, and we have to keep our vision of what we want at the end of the season,” said Long, “but we are not using youth as an excuse 11 games into the season. Some of our younger players are playing a more important role.  Lauren Mahar (Colonia), Jenna Balestriere (Scotch Plains) and Amanda Scully (Bloomfield) all played well today, as did Vroman.”  “We have a lot of new players,” Vroman said, “and it will come. We are just now starting to work well together.”

“Siena is a good team,” said Long.  “We played them in the MAAC semi-finals last year. We believe we have a good team too, and we have a successful style.  We just have to get through this infancy stage. We still need to grow. We still have a good chance to compete well at end of season.”

It doesn’t matter who starts the game, it is who finishes. And for this season, with all 10 teams advancing to the MAAC Championship tournament in Orlando, it doesn’t matter how you start the season, it is how you finish.  “There is a lot of truth to that,” said Long.

Rider hosts Marist in a MAAC game Sunday.

-RU-