Soccer hopes for magic in the Magic Kingdom

By Joe Haubrich

The women’s soccer team knew before the season that it would have a rough schedule heading into the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) tournament at Disney World.

The Broncs just finished playing three games in four days before they ended the regular season against defending MAAC champion Loyola College on Saturday. They went the distance in back-to-back double overtime efforts, which resulted in a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to St. Peter’s and a 0-0 tie versus Manhattan.

On Wednesday evening, only a day after the Manhattan contest, the Broncs were defeated 4-1 by Princeton, who ranked in the top five best teams in the nation last season.

“Loyola is the cream of the crop,” said Rider head coach Kevin Long. “They’ll exploit us and show us our abilities as a team. They’ll show us whether or not we can compete in the tournament.”

The battle-weary Broncs (2-13-2, 1-6-1 MAAC) have now competed in five double overtimes this season. Playing so much extra soccer has actually helped the team find confidence and has helped it stay patient and conditioned.

“I think the fact that we played so many overtime games definitely helped us,” said senior defender Jennifer Marcella. “It proves that we can hang in a game and remain strong without giving up late goals. It’s a good feeling going into [the tournament] with.”

Long is expecting that these last three games and the lessons learned this past week will help the team put up a fight against Loyola. Rider definitely wants to avenge its loss to Loyola in last year’s MAAC finals.

“We’ve had a lot of losses and a lot of disappointing games,” said Long. “Our players and staff all believe in themselves. Every time we step onto the field we’re looking to solve and correct errors and not make the game-losing error.”

In an effort to shake things up and also to give sophomore goaltender Kim Carter a rest heading into the postseason, Long recently called upon junior goalie Hannah Harris. Harris made her first collegiate start on Tuesday, Oct. 18, against Manhattan, making eight saves, four of which came in overtime, for the shutout.

“It’s a great feeling knowing that your coach is behind you 100 percent and that, when it’s so late in the season, he’ll give you a chance to play,” Harris said. “It’s easy to have confidence when everybody on your team believes in you. You just go out and play your game.”

Harris started again on Wednesday, Oct. 19, but was relieved by Carter in the second half. Harris allowed three goals, making only one save before Carter allowed the final goal while compiling five saves. Princeton was a good test for both goalkeepers, giving the Broncs valuable practice for Loyola and then Florida. Long is still determining who he will start on tomorrow.

“We have to come out strong against Loyola,” said Marcella. “We want to make a good showing. I think things finally started to come together on defense, but the most difficult thing is learning how to play with each other [under different] goalies.”

Win or lose against Loyola, the Broncs are looking forward to the postseason. They are thankful for such great tests late in the season and thankful that each team starts out with a clean slate in the tournament.

“I’m just looking forward to having a fresh start,” said Marcella. “It gives us a chance to start all over again and prove to the other MAAC teams that we can beat them.”