Boxscore

Photo courtesy of Mark Campbell

NEWARK, Del. - The University of Delaware men’s soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision to visiting Rider University on Friday evening at Delaware Mini-Stadium.

Though the Blue Hens (1-5-0) dominated all shots by tallying 19 to Rider’s (2-4-0) eight, the Blue and Gold suffered while trying to find the back of the net.

Rider who now leads the all-time series 22-21-3, a series that began in the 1933 season, notched the game’s first goal as the 26th minute rolled off the clock. A Broncs midfielder lobbed a pass into the box and over the head of an anxious teammate who connected with the bounce to beat Delaware keeper Brandon Paul and give the visiting squad a 1-0 lead.

The Broncs maintained a one-goal cushion until the final minute of the half when a concoction of offensive and defensive players filled the box in front of Delaware’s goal. In that cluster, Delaware junior co-captain Jon Scheer gained control of the ball and found the feet of freshman Ben Raymond (at right) who laced a shot past the Broncs goalie to knot the game at 1-1.

After rallying to tie the game merely 52 seconds before the half, Delaware returned to the field as eager as when they left. Though, Rider did just the same by returning with a high level of intensity in its game.

The Broncs were able to tally the eventual game-winning-goal in the 55th minute when a pass across the goal connected with an attacker perched on the right post.

The Hens had their chances in the latter half, but were not able to capitalize upon them. Scheer notched back-to-back attempts firing the first from the endline to fly deep and left of the goal and in the following minute tried from the right corner of the box only to be blocked by the Broncs defensive wall. Moments later junior Courtney Hewitt headed a ball inches high of the right corner of the goal to bring the crowd to its feet. Unfortunately, the Hens ran short of additional chances as the final 90-minute buzzer sounded.

"I thought some of our play was very fluid tonight and we essentially had Rider pinned back for the entire game,” said fourth-year head coach Ian Hennessy. “Unfortunately, we failed to capitalize on our opportunities and at the end of the day our success will be determined by the opportunities that we take.

“Beyond that, I am proud of the work that the players put in tonight in a game from which I felt they (the players) deserved more,” concluded Hennessy.

Delaware posted eight corner kicks while Rider had four. In the physical, fast game both teams were charged with 12 fouls.

Paul, who played in his first collegiate complete-game for Delaware, made one save for the Hens. Rider’s Chris Pimentel stopped five for the visitors.

Delaware will next travel to Saint Joseph’s for a 7 p.m. match on Wednesday, Sept. 23.

AGATE:

Rider................................1...1.....2
Delaware..........................1...0.....1

Scoring Summary: First Half: RIDER - Nico Tramontana (Jim Bradley) 27:00, UD - Ben Raymond (Jon Scheer) 44:08; Second Half: Nico Tramontana (Chris Kozak) 54:11; Corner Kicks: UD - 8, RIDER - 4; Saves: UD - 1 (Brandon Paul 1), RIDER - 5 (Chris Pimentel); Fouls: UD - 12, RIDER 12; Offsides: UD - 2, RIDER - 5.