PHILADELPHIA – The Saint Joseph's men's soccer team suffered defeat on Thursday evening, falling 2-0 to Rider in non-conference action on Sweeney Field.
 
Rider improved to 1-1 while the Hawks search for their first win of the season at 0-2.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• In the opening 10 minutes, the Hawks created the best chance through Daniel Zivkovic. The Australian forward picked the ball up just outside the area and unleashed a strike on goal, the Rider goalkeeper scrambling before making the save.
• In the visitors' first real chance, the Broncs capitalized off a set piece opportunity as Sebastian Rojek nodded home from close distance to give Rider a 1-0 lead in the 17^th minute.
• Just over 10 minutes later, the Hawks saw their best chance of the half spurned as a driven ball went into the six-yard box before Philipp Wujewitsch deflected the effort towards goal. The ball ricocheted off the crossbar before falling straight down, the referee waving off protests from the Crimson and Gray that it crossed the goal line.
• Lars Haavie was called into action for the first time of the night, keeping the Broncs off the scoreboard once more in the 40^th minute for his first save as the Hawks trailed 1-0 headed into halftime.
• On the other end of the break, Rider took little time to double its advantage. A give-and-go pass down the right side of the field saw Babacar Diene get on the end of an Adel Al Masude through ball before the Bronc forward cleanly dispatched the goal high and wide of an oncoming Haavie to double the advantage for the visitors.
• Two saves from Haavie in the span of two minutes kept SJU in the game before being able to find some offense of its own. Alex Hood threatened the goal with a powerful driven attempt to the goalie's left, Adam Salama matching the effort with a parry to keep the Owings, Md. native off the score sheet.
• Another Hawk attack saw James Fletcher drive down the left side of the pitch before firing a low cross into an oncoming Patrick Vani. The Canadian was denied, Salama once again making a quick reflex kick save to deny the hosts.
• Despite late attempts from St. Joe's to find a way back into the game, the Rider defense held firm and secured a clean sheet as the Hawks fell 2-0 at home.

 
QUICK NOTES

• The Hawks held a 13-10 advantage in shots, but Rider held a narrow margin in shots on goal at 5-4.
• Blake Dreihuis and Vani each recorded four shots on the night.
• Haavie recorded three saves in the defeat
• The injury riddled Hawks only used five subs on the evening, six different Hawks playing 90 minutes.

 
 
UP NEXT

• The Hawks finish the three-game homestand to start the season with a Thursday night matchup with Boston University. The Aug. 31 kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.