October 21, 2005 - Fairfield 4 Rider 1

• Box Score

October 21, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Men's College Soccer

Fairfield University 4, Rider University 1

LAWRENCEVILLE--When the season reaches the point where it is time to look toward the future, there is no need to look any further than number 20, freshman Mike Juska (Wall).  Juska took a long pass from red-shirt freshman Evan Lubcher (Milltown/East Brunswick) and scored his team-high third goal of the season to tie the score at 1-1 in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference loss to Fairfield Friday.

“Juska is as complete a player as we’ve had in a long time,” said Rider head coach Russ Fager. “He can play in the back, he can play in the middle, and we put him up front because he gets open and strikes the ball well.  He’s a good, strong kid who scored a great goal today.”

“Evan played the ball in the air, I one-timed it, and it went in,” said Juska, who was a First Team All-State selection at Wall High School last year, leading his team to the Group III State Championship. “Mike was one of the top four or five players in the state of New Jersey last year, and is the reason his team did so well,” Fager said. “He’s a very gifted player. This is a young man everyone was after.”

“This is a completely different level of soccer than at Wall,” said Juska.  “Here, it is more physical, with bigger and faster players.”

Juska got used to winning at Wall, winning the State title as a senior. “As a young team we have to be patient,” Juska said.  “We can see there is a good future here, so we have to stick it out now, and good things will come.  I want to start being a leader, control the tempo of the game. I don’t have to score, just do good things, create assists.”

But can a freshman become a leader?  “Once you prove yourself you can become a leader,” Juska said.  “Not in preseason because you have to earn the respect of your teammates. I don’t think I’ve done enough yet, I still have to do more to prove myself to be a leader on this team.”

Fairfieldout-shot Rider 17-11, including 11-4 in the first half. “I don’t think they are three goals better than us,” said Fager.  “The second and third goals we pretty much scored on ourselves.  All day we were short on our serves, and Fairfield intercepted them and counter-attacked.”

Rider junior goalkeeper Dan Riverso (Williamstown) made seven saves. “Dan played about as well as possible,” Fager said, “he didn’t have much help today.”

Rider (2-9-3, 1-3-1 MAAC) hosts Iona Sunday in the final home game of the season. Before the game, graduating seniors Sandro DeCristofaro and Brian Laurinaitis will be honored.  After the game, it will be time to look toward the future, and that future starts with number 20.

-RU-