JERSEY CITY, NJ – Sofia Soares (Sao Paolo, Brazil/St. Nicholas) and Ailis Martin (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) each scored their first goals of the season as the Rider University women’s soccer team wrapped up the regular season with a 2-2 tie at Saint Peter’s. With the tie, the Broncs (8-5-4, 4-3-3 MAAC) have clinched the No. 5 seed in the MAAC Championships and will travel to fourth-seeded Niagara for the quarterfinals on Sunday.

Soares opened the scoring in the 29^th minute, finishing a Valeria Pascuet (Bunuel, Navarra, Spain/San Fermin Ikastola) free kick. The Peacocks answered just over three minutes later, with Barbara Paiva scoring the first of her two goals on the day off an Alexandra Couto assist.

Rider retook the lead on Martin’s first collegiate goal in the 56^th minute off an assist from Erica Ludwikowski (Williamsport, PA/Williamsport). But Paiva again answered, this time with 46 seconds left in regulation, recovering a ball in the box and beating Broncs goalkeeper Amy Kozlowski (Middletown, CT/Middletown) for the equalizer.

Neither team could find the back of the net in the overtimes as the game ended in a draw.

 

Quotes and Notes

“It is always tough playing games which lack significant meaning for one team and everything for the other team, which was the case today. With one of our possible playoff opponents given a bye this week, we had to adjust accordingly and approach the game very differently.”  - Rider Head Coach Drayson Hounsome 

- Rider and Saint Peter’s tied for the first time in the all-time series. The Broncs have dominated the series with Saint Peter’s, 19-4-1, including wins in the seven games prior to today’s draw.
- The Broncs’ quarterfinal contest at Niagara will take place Sunday at a time to be determined. Stay posted to GoBroncs.com for all the latest updates.

- Rider is now 4-1-2 when scoring first this season.
- A Bronc scored her first-career goal for the third-straight game. Martin followed Ashlyn Johnson’s (Santa Clarita, CA/Valencia) first-career tally on Oct. 17 against Quinnipiac and Sarah Gellert’s (Severna Park, MD/Severna Park) first goal on Oct. 20 against Canisius.

- Rider has now qualified for the MAAC Tournament in each of the last six years.

Broncs By The Numbers
- 11 different Broncs have now scored a goal this season.
- Pascuet’s assist extends her team-leading total to seven on the season. She’s now increased her assist total in each of her three years with three as a freshman, four last season and now seven in her junior season. Her 14 career assists in less than three years are already tied for seventh in program history with Bridgette Bartkowski, Hollie Kelsh and Tami Coyle.
- Making her first start since Sept. 12 and her second of the year, Kozlowski made six saves, one off her career high of seven earlier this year at Delaware State. 
- Saint Peter’s outshot Rider, 14-12, for the game and 8-7 in shots on goal.
- Rider took six corner kicks to the Peacocks’ one.