October 7, 2005 - Rider 5 Canisius 1

• Box Score

October 7, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Men’s College Soccer

Rider University 5, Canisius College 1

LAWRENCEVILLE—After scoring just four goals in the nine non-conference games this year, Rider erupted for five goals in the first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game of the season, defeating Canisius Friday.

“Wasn’t that nice?” asked Rider head coach Russ Fager.  “I told the guys that the first nine games were to get ready for the next nine. Now we are 1-0 in the league, and the first nine games don’t matter. We proved that last year.”  Last season Rider began the year 0-8, and once the conference season began the Broncs turned things around and advanced to the MAAC Championship Game.

Junior Adam Bailey (Southampton, PA/Archbishop Wood) had two goals and two assists Friday to lead Rider (2-6-2, 1-0 MAAC). “We’ve been trying to get Bailey to play like this all season,” Fager said.  “Today he used his skills and his speed to be a very dangerous player. He did a good job last game against Richmond as well. We’re a different team when he’s playing like this.”

Bailey took a pass from sophomore Lee Tomasso (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) and scored 4:23 into the game for a 1-0 lead.  Five minutes later Tomasso took a pass from Bailey and scored for a 2-0 Rider lead. “We had a high intensity level today,” said Bailey, who now leads Rider with three goals on the season.  “We seemed to win every ‘50-50’ ball, and I was able to get the ball more. On the first goal Lee had it, I called for it and he was able to get it to me and I left-footed it in. That was my first left footed goal at Rider.”

Bailey gave Rider a 3-0 lead with a goal on a penalty kick mid-way through the first half. “On the PK, I never looked up,” Bailey said.  “I just focused on the ball and hit it to the corner.” The PK was Bailey’s third at Rider, scoring once in each of his seasons.  “I practice about 50 of them a day,” Bailey said.

Canisius (0-7-2, 0-1 MAAC) cut the lead to 3-1 on an unassisted goal by Patrick Burke with less than one minute remaining in the first half.

Rider freshmen Owen Castle (Belford, N.J./Middletown North) and Mike Juska (Wall) each scored their first collegiate goals to finish out the scoring.

Rider out-shot Canisius 16-8.

Rider junior goalkeeper Dan Riverso (Williamstown) made two saves, and Randall Zapolski made one save in 15 minutes of action.

Rider hosts Niagara in a MAAC game Sunday at 1pm. “In the conference games, there is more intensity, more incentive,” Bailey said.

“We’re 1-0 and sitting in good shape,” Fager said.  The second season has begun.

-RU-