LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. — Sacred Heart secured a 2-1 victory at Rider on Saturday, extending its winning streak while handing the hosts their fourth consecutive loss. The Pioneers (8-3-4) controlled the second half to overcome an early deficit, with Ivan Morcillo and Carlos Gonzalez Palau providing the decisive goals. Rider (1-11-4) pulled level midway through the match but couldn't maintain parity against a visiting side that dominated possession in the final 45 minutes.
Morcillo opened the scoring in the 12th minute, giving Sacred Heart an early advantage. Lovro Kostanjšek equalized for Rider in the 26th minute with an assist from Ricardo Joasilus, setting up a tightly contested first half. The teams entered halftime deadlocked at 1-1 after a competitive opening period that saw both sides create opportunities but struggle to convert.
Sacred Heart's second-half adjustments proved decisive. Gonzalez Palau restored the Pioneers' lead in the 82nd minute, assisted by Danny Istambouli, providing what would become the match-winner. The goal came after sustained pressure from the visitors, who generated 13 corner kicks compared to Rider's four—a significant advantage that reflected Sacred Heart's territorial control.
Sacred Heart's offensive efficiency stood out in the statistics. The Pioneers recorded eight shots on goal from 14 total attempts, while Rider managed five shots on goal from nine attempts. Sacred Heart's goalkeeper made four saves to preserve the lead down the stretch as Rider pressed for an equalizer in the final minutes.