Women's College Soccer

#8 Rider University 4, #9 Manhattan College 0

MAAC Preliminary Round

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL—In the Magic Kingdom, Rider managed to get its groove on.

The Broncs erupted for four second-half goals to defeat Manhattan in the first round of the 2005 JetBlue Airways Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Women’s Soccer Championship tournament Thursday at the Walt Disney World’s Wide World of Sports complex. “We found our groove in the second half,” said Rider head coach Kevin Long.

Junior Kelli Burke (Churchville, Pa/Council Rock-South) took a pass from sophomore Amy Vinarsky (Cranberry Twp., PA/Seneca Valley) and scored to give Rider a 1-0 lead 5:33 into the second half.  “KB’s goal really sparked us,” said Long.

“Amy took it down the right side and crossed it to me, and I kicked it in from the six,” said Burke.  “In the first half play was about even, but in the second half we did really well.  We put passes together and we pretty much dominated the second half.  We wanted to keep playing for the seniors.”

“It was really a tale of two halves,” said Long.  “Once we settled in to our style, more of a possession game, there was more direction to our play.”

“For maybe the first time all season the scoreboard indicated how well we played,” said senior Aileen Ascolese (Holyoke, MA).  “We finally pulled together as a team. Being down here we came together. We knew if we lost we were done, so maybe we needed that sense of urgency that we might have lacked all year.  With all ten teams in the tournament this year, I think we always had in the back of our minds after a loss, ‘well at least we have Florida.’  Now we know we have to play well or it’s all over. We really understood the importance of this game, it really clicked today.”

Freshman Amanda Scully (Bloomfield) compiled a goal and an assist for the Broncs, freshman Kayla Devlin (Clifton) scored her third goal of the season to give Rider a 2-0 lead, and freshman Lauren Mahar (Colonia) scored her first collegiate goal with 14 second left in the game for the final score.

Rider (3-14-2), the eight seed, out-shot Manhattan (6-12-2), the ninth seed, 11-8. Rider sophomore goalkeeper Kim Carter (Chantilly, Va.) made three saves for the shutout.

The Broncs now have to face the top seed and defending champion, Loyola, in the quarter-finals Friday at 1:45 pm.  The game will be a rematch of the 2004 MAAC title Game.  “We have a huge shot at beating Loyola,” said Ascolese.  “They are great, deserving the top seed, but they are beatable.”

“If we play against Loyola the way we played the second half today we can stay with them, and then who knows?” said Burke.

“Late in the first half we gained some momentum when (senior ) Kelly Oates (Bayonne) came in off the bench and gave us 15 strong minutes,” said Long. “She reminded the other players where we were, that if we lose we’re done and we go home.”

Rider is not done yet, and the Broncs are not coming home, as long as they have their groove.

-RU-