November 5, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Men’s College Soccer

Loyola College 3, Rider University 1

BALTIMORE, MD—The Rider University men’s soccer season came to an end Saturday with a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference loss at Loyola. Junior Dylan Matlack (Geigertown, PA/Twin Valley) entered the game 26 minutes into the contest and scored almost immediately, tying the game at 1-1.  “We put Dylan in and he got a goal almost right away,” said Rider head coach Russ Fager.

For Matlack, it was his fourth goal of the season and his third in the last two games.

Rider junior goalkeeper Dan Riverso (Williamstown) made four saves. “Dan played phenomenal,” said Fager.  “In the first half he made some saves he had no business making.”

Last week Riverso was named the MAAC Defensive Player of the Week.  “That award meant a lot,” said Riverso, who leads the MAAC in saves and is second in the conference in shutouts, “but I look at it as a team award.  Winning it means the defense played well in front of me.”

Loyola (8-8-2, 6-2-1 MAAC) out-shot Rider 18-8. “In the second half they scored two goals inside the six (yard line),” Riverso said.  “If they didn’t have those chances in close it’s an even game.”

Rider ends the season with a 4-10-4 overall record, 3-4-2 in the MAAC, good for fifth place. “Looking back, the first six games or so we just couldn’t score, but since then we averaged almost two goals a game,” said Fager, “so I’m pleased with the way we turned the offense around.”

“I’m disappointed with the way this season went,” said Riverso.  “Games such as Niagara, Siena and Manhattan, games we could have and probably should have won, if we win those we’re in the playoffs, so that’s disappointing. We just didn’t have any luck this year.”

“We didn’t have the intensity that we needed to have for the entire season,” said Fager.  “I’m proud of the way we played last week when we defeated Saint Peter’s, in a game we needed to win to stay alive in the playoff hunt and we did. If we had that intensity all season it would have been a different story. We’ll spend some time with the youngsters during the off season and instill that for next year.”

“Our goal for next year is to return to the MAAC finals,” said Riverso, “and hopefully win it and get to the NCAAs.”

-RU-