College Field Hockey: Rider University 3, Monmouth University 2

LAWRENCEVILLE — Led by two goals and an assist from junior Sandra Penas (Barcelona, Spain), the Rider University field hockey team defeated Monmouth University 3-2 on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 3) at Ben Cohen Field to capture the 2012 Northeast Conference championship.

The title is the third in a row for Rider (14-5).

With Rider trailing 2-1 and less than 12 minutes on the clock, Penas converted a penalty corner with sophomore Eefje Kok (Berkel Enschot, Netherlands) and Rachel Ippolite (Woolwich Twp./Kingsway Regional) picking up the assists with 11:23 remaining, tying the game 2-2.

Penas then used a back handed shot from the top of the circle for her team-leading 19th goal of the season, giving the Broncs a 3-2 lead with 7:12 left in the game.

Penas is now third on Rider’s all-time scoring list with 131 points (53g, 25a).

Penas assisted on Rider’s first goal of the game, with freshman Allison Muschs (Linkebeek, Belgium) scoring her eighth of the season as the Broncs took a 1-0 lead 28:58 into the game and Rider led by one at the half.

Monmouth (8-13) came out of the intermission on fire, scoring back to back goals 6:23 apart in the 42nd and 48th minutes to take a 2-1 lead.

Rider out-shot the Hawks 18-12 and the Broncs held a 17-11 penalty corner advantage.

Freshman Joelle Prettyman (Newark, Del./St. Mark’s) made four saves to pick up her ninth win of the season.

Penas, Burgo, senior Marlaine Schneider (Feasterville, Pa./Neshaminy) and senior Ellie LaBar (Oaklyn/Collingswood) were named to the NEC All-Tournament team with Penas taking home NEC MVP honors.

This is the third season in a row that Rider and Monmouth have met for the NEC Title with the Broncs winning 1-0 in 2010 and 2-1 in 2011, both games in Lawrenceville.

Rider and Monmouth have now played 33 times with the Broncs holding a 23-7-3 advantage in the series that began in 1977.

Rider is now 26-1 all-time at the lighted campus turf field which opened in the fall of 2010.

The Broncs have won the 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 NEC regular season titles. 

This is Rider’s sixth NEC championship having also won in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2010 and 2011.  The Broncs have appeared in 11 of the last 13 NEC championship games.

Rider will travel to the Atlantic 10 champion UMass for an NCAA Play-In game on Tuesday.

This is the third season in a row that Rider has advanced to the NCAA-Play-In round.  In 2010, Rider lost at the University at Albany 2-1 and in 2011, the Broncs lost at Princeton 1-0 in double overtime.

1. 28:58 RID Muschs, Allison (Penas, Sandra)

2. 41:05 MU SCHOENFELD, Amanda (unassisted)
3. 47:28 MU CARROLL, Alex (O'DWYER, Trish)

4. 58:37 RID Penas, Sandra (Kok, Eefje, Ippolite, Rachel)

5. 62:48 RID Penas, Sandra (unassisted)