The Rider University women's soccer team begins the 2009 season at the Navy Invitational the last weekend of August and the home opener is September 1, a doubleheader with the Rider men.
“With 12 incoming freshmen, everyone will be competing for playing time at every position,” said second year head coach Drayson Hounsome. “It will be a highly competitive season in practice and in games. We open with two challenging games at Navy.”
On August 28 the Broncs take on the Broncos of Boise State in the first round at the U.S. Naval Academy and on August 30 Rider plays Fairleigh Dickinson, also in Annapolis.
The Broncs defeated FDU last season in Teaneck. It is the first meeting with Boise State, who set a Bronco record for wins at 11-8-2 and advanced to the Western Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals last season.
In the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Loyola was the regular season champion last year and the Broncs tied the Greyhounds 0-0. Fairfield won the MAAC Championship Tournament and the Broncs took the Stags to double overtime last season.
“Those were the top teams last year and should be again this year,” Hounsome said. Both of those games are on the road this year.
The 2009 conference schedule begins with the Western New York road trip. “We have a tough road trip to Canisius and Niagara,” Hounsome said.
The home schedule begins with a ?Two for Tuesday' soccer doubleheader, with the women hosting Delaware State at 2:30pm and the Rider men hosting Lafayette at 5pm.
The MAAC Championship Tournament is a ten-team tournament this year, held at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando, Florida.
The Broncs will be led by the return of eight starters, including junior goalkeeper Alex Post and junior forward Lauren Musumeci. Post (Chalfont, PA/Central Bucks West) has started all 38 games over the last two years and led the MAAC in saves last season. Musumeci already ranks 15th in career scoring at Rider.
