Inverso Era Begins August 26 at Seton Hall
The Rider University men's soccer team will play its first game under a head coach other than recently retired Russ Fager for the first time since 1974 when the Broncs travel to South Orange to take on the Pirates of Seton Hall August 26.
"We are all excited about our season opener when we go up to play Seton Hall," said new Rider head coach Charlie Inverso, who will be seeking his 435th career coaching win that night. "We are slowly trying to take on tougher opponents and I am really happy that (Seton Hall Coach) Manfred (Schellscheidt) would play us on short notice. He is the most influential soccer coach in America and someone that has been a huge influence and mentor to me as well as a great friend. That doesn't mean he won't try to make my first game as a Rider coach a miserable one!"
After trips to Lafayette and Mount St. Mary's, Inverso will make his Lawrenceville debut Friday night, September 9, when the Broncs host the Blackbirds of Long Island University and come back to host Bryant on Sunday afternoon.
Rider will take part in the Binghamton Tournament, taking on Albany and host Binghamton, and will travel to St. Francis-NY before conference play begins with a home contest with Iona September 30.
"Although I have seen a lot of MAAC games I have never coached in one and I know the players and coaches are real excited about the schedule that we have this fall," Inverso said.
In addition to Iona, Rider will host Fairfield, Niagara and Canisius in conference play while traveling to Saint Peter's, Manhattan, Loyola, Marist and Siena.
"The rest of the schedule is tough," Inverso said. "Six of our eight out of conference games and five of nine conference games are on the road. The road makes you tougher and that is what we will have to take from it."
The Broncs return one of their top two scorers from last year, Dan Friga, and starting goal keeper Matt Perrella.
For the complete 2011 men's soccer schedule, click the link at the top of this story.
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