Box score
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ—Jennifer Meier scored Rider's first two goals and assisted on the third, leading the Broncs to a convincing 5-2 defeat of NJIT in non-conference women's soccer Tuesday afternoon on the Rider campus.
Meier, a freshman from Long Island, netted the only goal of the first half in the 25th minute and then triggered a four-goal second half for the Broncs (4-2-2) in the 55th minute. She picked up her assist on Rider's third goal, which capped a flurry of three goals—two for Rider and one for NJIT—in a span of less than four minutes.
The other goal scorers for the Broncs, who are 8-1-1 in their last 10 home games going back to 2009, were: sophomore Claire Thompson, who also assisted on Meier's first goal; sophomore Alexis Coughlin; and, sophomore Angela Lozupone.
Kaitlyn Wylie also assisted on the first goal, while Bridgette Bartkowski helped out on Meier's second marker. Kimberly Reichel got an assist on Coughlin's goal, which was Rider's fourth of the day. And Lozupone's tally in the 89th minute was unassisted.
The five goals were the most in a match this season for the Broncs, whose previous season high came in a 3-0 win at Delaware State on September 8. Tuesday's five goals allowed were the most this year in a game vs. NJIT, as well. The Highlanders yielded three at Saint Joseph's on September 5, but otherwise hadn't allowed more than two in their seven previous games.
NJIT's two goals matched the second-highest total surrendered by Rider and also tied the top game output for the Highlanders. NJIT also scored twice in a 2-1 win on August 29 over Saint Peter's, which, like Rider, plays in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
The NJIT scorers were: senior Christi Taylor, who picked up her first goal of the season, assisted by freshman Casey Parisi at 58:06; and, Amanda Dotten, assisted by Taylor in the 87th minute. Dotten's second goal of the season gave her the individual team lead.
Rider used two goalkeepers. Starter Alex Post, who left in the 71st minute, and sub Jenn Nichols each allowed one goal and made one save. NJIT keeper Sadie Mele stopped seven shots and allowed the five goals.
The NJIT defense was able to catch the Broncs offsides 21 times, but Rider still managed to get off 26 shots, including 12 on goal. NJIT finished with eight shots, four on goal.
Meier got the only goal of the first half, assisted by Thompson and Wylie, at 24:27, as NJIT's Mele saved the other four Rider shots on goal in the opening 45 minutes.
The freshman Meier made it 2-0, assisted by Bartkowski, at 54:42.
The Highlanders got back in contention for what turned out to be a virtual blink of the eye when Parisi fed Taylor, who cut the gap to 2-1 just 3:24 after Meier had made it 2-0 for the home team.
The 2-1 score lasted all of 32 seconds, as Meier fed Thompson for Rider's third goal at 58:38.
The score stayed at 3-1 for nearly 20 minutes, until the Broncs got a breakaway goal from Coughlin, helped by Reichel, in the 78th minute.
NJIT's Dotten scored with 3:27 remaining, but Rider responded again, this time 2:24 after the Highlander goal.
Tuesday's game was the second in the all-time women's soccer series between the schools. NJIT won the first meeting, 2-0, on September 13, 2009 in Newark.
The Highlanders (1-6-1) will be back home for their next game, hosting Army at 7 pm on Friday on Lubetkin Field at J. Malcolm Simon Stadium.
