The Rider University men’s soccer team earned its second straight MAAC Championship and NCAA Tournament berth with a 3-1 win over top-seeded Quinnipiac in November 2016. It was the fourth MAAC Championship in program history (1997, 1998, 2015, 2016).
In December, senior Christian Flath, who helped lead the Broncs during a 55-game turnaround in the program’s record over four years, was named an NSCAA All-American. The selection made Flath the fifth Broncs men’s soccer player to earn All-America honors and the first since 1972. Flath joins Ed Adams ’56, Frank Nerwinski ’59, John Wagner ’67 and Bob Smith ’72 as Rider men’s soccer All-Americans.
Bronc Bits
Veronica Koval was named 2016 MAAC Setter of the Year after leading the Broncs to a tie for third in the regular season and the No. 4 seed in the MAAC Championships. The junior led the MAAC in service aces per set (0.45) while finishing fourth in assists per set (9.01).
Megan McGarrity finished second, the highest finish ever by any Bronc runner, and ran a 21:27.6 at the 2016 MAAC Cross Country Championships. She ran a PR 21:10.2 in the 6K at the NCAA Division I Mid-Atlantic Region Cross Country Championships and finished 21st.
The 2016 MAAC Rookie of the Year, Daane Koch was also named to the All-MAAC First Team. She started all 19 games as a Rider rookie, registering team-highs in goals (11) and points (30) and was second in assists (8).
Junior Ryan Baird led the Broncs to their second-straight MAAC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. He earned All-Region Second Team, MAAC Co-Goalkeeper of the Year, MAAC Championship MVP and All-MAAC First Team.
Senior Bethany-May Howard finished her career as the Broncs’ all-time leader in wins (34) and shutouts (20), second in saves (378) and third in goalkeeper minutes (6,129). She earned 2016 MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year and All-MAAC First Team honors.