Conference

NEC Player of the Week
RACHEL IPPOLITE, RIDER
Fr., M/B, 5-3, Woolwich Twp, NJ/Kingsway Regional
With Ippolite providing the difference on the offensive end, Rider managed to accomplish something it had failed to do in each of the past two seasons - beat Hofstra. Ippolite scored one goal and assisted on another in Rider’s 2-0 shutout of the CAA member. Facing an opponent whose lone loss was to nationally-ranked Albany, the Broncs broke a scoreless deadlock just 12 seconds before halftime when Ippolite fired a shot toward the right post that was tipped in by senior forward Gabby Burgo. After assisting on the first marker, Ippolite scored one of her own in the game’s 50th minute. The rookie midfielder put the ball past the keeper during a scramble that ensued off a penalty corner. Ippolite’s contributions helped Rider to its first win over a CAA member in its last five meetings with one. The Broncs posted a combined 35-6 record over the past two seasons with two of the six losses coming to Hofstra and another at the hand of Delaware.

NEC Rookie of the Week
RACHEL IPPOLITE, RIDER
Fr., M/B, 5-3, Woolwich Twp, NJ/Kingsway Regional
A second Bronc stakes claim to the NEC Rookie of the Week award in as many weeks. After Rider’s Allison Muschs shared last week’s award with a co-recipient, Ippolite is the sole holder of the honor this time around. With Ippolite providing the difference on the offensive end, Rider managed to accomplish something it had failed to do in each of the past two seasons - beat Hofstra. Ippolite scored one goal and assisted on another in Rider’s 2-0 shutout of the CAA member. Facing an opponent whose lone loss was to nationally-ranked Albany, the Broncs broke a scoreless deadlock just 12 seconds before halftime when Ippolite fired a shot toward the right post that was tipped in by senior forward Gabby Burgo. After assisting on the first marker, Ippolite scored one of her own in the game’s 50th minute. The rookie midfielder put the ball past the keeper during a scramble that ensued off a penalty corner. Ippolite’s contributions helped Rider to its first win over a CAA member in its last five meetings with one. The Broncs posted a combined 35-6 record over the past two seasons with two of the six losses coming to Hofstra and another at the hand of Delaware.


The Northeast Conference Notebook
RIDER RIDING HIGH AGAIN THANKS TO ROOKIE CONTRIBUTIONS
Rider head coach Lori Hussong may never again find another Virginia Eguszquiza, but student-athletes like the former three-time NEC Player of the Year sometimes only come along once in a generation.
What Hussong has already done, however, was add a strong set of newcomers to a roster that lost Egusquiza to graduation last spring.
Rider has won three of its first four games of the fall and has started freshman goal keepers in all of them. Joelle Prettyman owns a 2-1 record and 1.38 goals-against average in three starts, while Alicia Carthan won her lone start, a 2-0 decision over Hofstra.
Rider has scored nine goals over its first four contests and four of those tallies have come off the sticks of rookies. Freshmen midfielders Allison Muschs and Rachel Ippolite each have two goals to their credit. Ippolite’s second tally came in the second half of the Broncs’ upset win over CAA member Hofstra.
The Broncs have become known for receiving contributions from college-ready rookies over the years. Rider currently has two former NEC Rookie of the Year selections – Marlaine Schneider (2009) and Sandra Penas (2010) – on its roster.
In 12-plus season under Hussong, Rider has acquired 39 NEC Rookie of the Week awards including Ippolite’s latest honor.

Sacred Heart’s Surprise Start: The Pioneers were idle last week following a 3-1 season start. Sacred Heart’s lone loss came on the road at the hands of No. 7 Connecticut on Aug. 26. SHU has won both of its games since – a 2-1 win over Holy Cross and an overtime triumph over Harvard. The Pioneers will end a 10-day hiatus when they host UC Davis on Sept. 14.

Rusin-led Bobcats Back on Track: Quinnipiac returned to its winning ways last week, winning the lone game on its slate thanks to a goal and an assist from Jess Rusin. The junior powered the Bobcats to a 2-1 road win at America East member Vermont. Helping Quinnipiac avoid a possible three-game slide, Rusin opened the game’s scoring with a goal in the 9th minute before assisting on the eventual game-winner in the 26th minute.

Extra Strokes
Monmouth received two tallies from Michelle Pieczynski last week. The senior forward is currently tied for the league lead in goals (5). … After earning all-NEC honors as a defender in 2011, Saint Francis (PA) sophomore Carissa Makea finds herself tied atop the NEC leader board with five goals. … Sophomore Jamie Hartley took over the Robert Morris team lead in goals by scoring one against Lock Haven and one against Kent State last week. She has four goals in six games played. … Siena has played two games thus far and goalie Beth Meyers has made36 saves in those contests. … Bryant has lost five straight games since its season-opening victory over Colgate on Aug. 25.


Top Performers of Week
? Rachel Ippolite (RID)
In addition to providing “key defense” according to her head coach, the rookie midfielder tallied three points in a 2-0 shutout of Hofstra.

? Jess Rusin (QU)
The junior forward had a hand in both of the Bobcats’ goals in a 2-1 win over Vermont, scoring one and assisting on the other.

? Alicia Carthan (RID)
The rookie goal keeper pitched a shutout in her first career start.

? Michelle Pieczynski (MON)
The senior forward tallied goals against Temple and Virginia Commonwealth.

? Carissa Makea (SFPA)
The sophomore back had a two-goal game against Bucknell last week.



Milestone Watch
? Michelle Pieczynski (MON)
Monmouth’s all-time leading scorer has registered a goal in each of her last three games. The program’s first 100-point scorer now has 46 career tallies, including six this season.

? Nicole Lewis (QU)
The veteran keeper earned the win against Vermont, making her the fourth Bobcat ever to record 20 victories in a career.

? Jess Rusin (QU)
The forward moved into a tie for 10th place on the Bobacts’ all-time scoring list.

Quotable
? Amanda Danzinger (QU), Senior
“I thought we played very well as a team. We had amazing passing patterns and everyone stepped up to contribute. It was just pretty hockey.”
- on the team’s effort against Vermont

? Lori Hussong (RID), Head Coach
“Alicia played outstanding in goal and made the saves we needed her to make. She also helped generate our attack with her saves.”
- on rookie keeper Alicia Carthan in her first career start

? Lori Hussong (RID), Head Coach
“Rachel is coming along and playing with more confidence. She is not only an offensive threat with her big hits on the corners, she plays strong defensively. She is progressing well.”
- on NEC Rookie of the Week Rachel Ippolite