Oct. 30, 2009
Final Stats
Megan Pisani and Virginia Egusquiza combined for 11 points as Rider shutout the Siena field hockey team 5-0 Friday afternoon in Princeton, N.J. Despite the loss, the Saints' hopes for a spot in the four-team field of the NEC Tournament remain alive entering Sunday's regular season finale.
Rider (16-1, 7-0) controlled the pace in the first half, but managed only a 1-0 lead at intermission. Pisani tallied the eventual game-winner in the seventh minute when she deflected in a shot from Egusquiza.
Renee Clavette made nine key saves in the first half for the Saints (4-13, 2-5) to keep the Green and Gold within striking distance.
But the Broncs offense broke through in the second half, striking for four goals including three in a seven-minute stretch to ice the victory. Pisani would finish with a hat trick, while Egusquiza added five points on a goal and three assists.
Rider out-shot Siena 26-6 and harbored a 13-8 edge in short corners. Clavette finished with 12 saves, while Lyndsie Johnson and Rebecca Lotito combined to make three saves in combining for the shutout.
Andrea Caso and Kyla Dickson each managed two shots apiece for the Saints' offense which was held off the scoreboard for the eighth time this season.
The Saints return to action in a crucial regular season finale Sunday at Monmouth at 1 p.m. Should the Saints win and Saint Francis (Pa.) lose to Quinnipiac, Siena would clinch the fourth and final seed in the upcoming NEC Tournament for just the second time ever.
