August 16, 2006 - Rider picked second in the Northeast Conference

August 16, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Field Hockey
Rider picked 2nd in the Northeast Conference

LAWRENCEVILLE—Rider University, the defending regular season field hockey champion of the Northeast Conference was picked to finish second in 2006, in voting conducted by the league head coaches.

"This year, the league will be extremely competitive," said Head Coach Lori Hussong, the 2005 NEC Coach of the Year.

The Broncs return 15 letterwinners and are led by junior Stephanie Walker (Lyman, Maine/Massabesic), an All-NEC honoree who led the league in points (34) and goals (14) as a sophomore and sophomore Tricia Crotty (Lewistown, Pa./Indian Valley) who was the NEC Rookie of the Year, leading the conference with six game-winning goals.

Rider (14-6, 7-1 NEC) also returns senior goalie Krysta Bearish (Coopersburg, Pa./Southern Lehigh) who had a goals against average of 1.16 as a junior and is 46-14 with 13 shutouts in her career.

Under Hussong, the Broncs have either won the NEC Tournament Championship (2004, 2002, 2000) or the NEC Regular Season Title (2005, 2003, 2001) in all six of her seasons at Rider.

Lock Haven University was picked to win the NEC championship with seven first place votes.  2005 NEC tournament champion Sacred Heart University received two first place votes and tied Rider for second in the poll.

"It's going to be a dog fight to finish among the top four spots to make the conference playoffs," Hussong added.  "Hopefully our team will be up for the challenge."

Rider begins the 2006 season at West Chester on August 30 at 7:00pm and opens the home schedule against Rhode Island on September 16 at noon.

-RU-

2006 NEC Pre-Season Poll (first place votes)
1.         Lock Haven     (7)
2.         Rider
            Sacred Heart    (2)
4.         Quinnipiac
5.         Fairfield
6.         Monmouth
7.         Robert Morris
8.         Siena
9.         Saint Francis (PA)