October 9, 2005 - Iona 3 Rider 1
October 9, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Women’s College Soccer
Iona College 3, Rider University 1
NEW ROCHELLE, NY—After taking a 1-0 lead 18 seconds into the game, the Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference at Iona Sunday.
Junior Kelli Burke (Churchville, Pa/Council Rock-South) collected a loose ball and struck from 25 yards out to give Rider (2-11-1, 1-5 MAAC) a 1-0 lead. “Burke hit one of the nicest shots she’s going to hit,” said Rider head coach Kevin Long. “She caused them a lot of problems in the first half.”
“We played very well in the first half,” said Burke, “probably the best half we’ve played all year. In the second half Iona came out stronger, we made some mistakes and they took advantage of them.” Burke now has six points this season and has climbed into tenth place on the Rider career scoring list with 22 career points.
The Broncs kept Iona (8-5-1, 4-1 MAAC) off of the scoreboard until five minutes into the second half, when Eleri Earnshaw scored on a penalty kick to tie the score.
“The PK opened the flood gates, and really turned the momentum their way,” said Long. Iona scored again eight minutes later, and again after nine more minutes of play, to take a 3-1 lead. “We started showing our youth once they scored.”
Iona out-shot Rider 12-11, including 10-7 in the second half. “We’re getting some offensive chances,” Long said. “A lot of players played well. Our backs played well except for a few mistakes. Other teams make mistakes and survive them. It seems every mistake we make costs us a goal. We hope to decrease our mistakes.”
“We haven’t had much luck with mistakes,” said Burke, who scored her first goal of the season. “It seems every time we make one the other team gets a goal.”
Rider sophomore goalkeeper Kim Carter (Chantilly, Va.) made four saves, while Jessica Martin made seven saves for Iona. “Iona is a good team,” said Long. “They certainly are not the team they were two years ago. This year they are a solid contender for the MAAC title.”
Rider hosts Manhattan Friday.
-RU-
