Fall Sports Wrap

With the return of 14 letterwinners, including eight starters, and the addition of five key newcomers, the 2001 Rider University men's soccer team will vie for one of the four spots in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship Tournament that the Broncs will be hosting. Now in its fifth season in the MAAC, Rider has never failed to make the tournament, winning the MAAC title in 1997 and 1998. The returnees are led by senior Bob Francis and sophomore goalkeeper Brian Gil. Francis, a two-time All-MAAC selection, finished 19^th in the nation in assists last year with a MAAC-high 11, and could move up from midfield to forward this season to take advantage of his exceptional speed. A former MAAC Rookie of the Year, Francis has compiled 13 goals and 18 assists in his three Rider seasons. Gil was a member of the MAAC All-Rookie team last season, starting 19 games in the Bronc nets. Gil shutout eventual MAAC champion Marist last season, and also shutout conference rival Siena. Other key returnees include seniors Steve Jackson, Scot Fanning and Todd Armstrong, and juniors Phil Bedrin, Sean O'Hare, Ryan Gallagher, Brett Aefsky and Jake Trainor.

The 2001 Rider University volleyball team will be young, with just one senior and no juniors, but will also be talented. The returnees are led by senior Evette Hoeffner and sophomore Amy Householder. Hoeffner was one of Rider’s top all-around players as a rookie, finishing first on the squad in digs (third in the MAAC with 3.78 per game), and second in both kills and attacks. Hoeffner came to Rider from the very strong Digs Club team, one of the top volleyball teams in New Jersey. Householder led Rider in kills as a rookie, is the leading returnee in blocks, and finished second to Hoeffner in the MAAC in digs. Householder earned All-Section honors in high school, setting Blackhawk (PA) school records for kills and digs, while maintaining membership in the National Honor Society. Other key returnees include Erica West, Laura Berger and Lauren Niewender.

With the return of 15 letterwinners, and the addition of several key players, the 2001 Rider University women's soccer team will be the most talented ever in this, its fifth season on the varsity level. Returnees include sophomores Sarah Artale, Andrea Giuliana, Colleen Evans, Molli Burns, Donna Ryan and Erin Wolleon, seniors Kristen Haagenson, Tracy Albrecht, Stefanie Boutis, Michele Herzog, Kelly Sherman and Kelli Wich, and junior Tina Gramiak. The newcomers are led by Tami Coyle, Casey Fagan, Stephanie Best and Leah Craig. Artale started the first three games as a rookie before tearing her ACL, and sat out the remainder of the 1999 season. Last year as a red-shirt freshman she led the Broncs with 12 points. Artale finished third in the MAAC in scoring among freshmen, and was 10^th overall in the conference in assists and points. An All-State Group IV selection at Jackson High, Artale compiled 48 goals in her scholastic career. Giuliana started 18 games as a rookie and scored a team-high five goals, and Evans started all 19 games at mid-field. Giuliana was ninth in the MAAC in goals last season. Evans, the niece of the NHL's Jim Dowd, was an All-State forward at St. Rose High School, leading her squad to a Shore Conference Championship. A fine athlete, Evans played two years on the St. Rose basketball team and competed for one season on the varsity swimming team.

With the return of three all-conference selections and the conference tournament MVP, and the influx of one of the most talented incoming classes in recent memory, the 2001 Rider University field hockey team will look to defend its first-ever Northeast Conference Title. The Broncs will be young, however, with just six players on the roster who are not freshmen or sophomores. Last year Rider ended the regular season on a four-game losing streak, and finished fourth in the NEC, but came back to upset the top seed and tournament host, Monmouth, and defeated the second seed, Quinnipiac in the Title Game, to win its first NEC Title and the first conference championship since 1991. The returnees are led by All-NEC selections Christine Cabarle, Janette Freeberg and Alison Waters, and NEC tournament MVP Jen Cushinotto.