Box Score TEANECK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson women's soccer team fell, 2-0, in the Northeast Conference championship match to #3 seed Central Connecticut State at University Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The victory improves CCSU to 11-5-4 this season, while the Knights finish the year at 14-5-1.
"It was a tough game for us. It was the final that we expected where there were limited chances for both teams. Unfortunately for us today Central put their chances away and we couldn't bury them. That was the difference in the game." Head Coach
Eric Teepe said, "Our team is devastated right now but they should be extremely proud of everything they did this year and the standards that they set. We took a step forward this year and hopefully we can take one more next year."
The Blue Devils scored one goal in each half and limited FDU to a season-low one shot on goal. It was just the third time all season in which the Knights were held under 10 shots total.
Fourteen minutes into the contest CCSU midfielder Charlie Branch had a shot blocked by FDU's
Noelle Picone (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial ) in the middle of the box and 11 minutes later, junior goalkeeper
Felicia Burr (Bellingham, Mass./Blackstone-Millville ) made a point-blank save against NEC Player of the Year Tori Sousa.
The Blue Devils opened the scoring with a nicely taken goal by Branch from the right side of the box to the lower left-hand corner.
In the 57th minute, CCSU defender Cailynn Harding scored a truly remarkable goal from nearly 30 yards out that hit the underside of the crossbar in the upper right corner and just above a diving Burr.
Three players shared a game-high three shots – Blue Devils midfielders Kelly Halligan and Charlie Branch and FDU's
Esther Rochon (Saint Romuald, Quebec/College Francois-Xavier-Garneau). Burr made three saves on the day while Turley had to make just one.
Connie Lewis (Outer Cove, Newfoundland/Gonzaga ) and junior co-captains
Amanda Goulet (Quebec City, Quebec/Shattuck-St. Mary's ) and
Katey Arathoon (Pickering, Ontario/St. Mary's ) were named to the All-Tournament team.
It has been a historic season for the women's soccer program. Picked to finish fourth and return to the conference tournament, FDU exceeded expectations and won its second-ever regular season title and then earned its first postseason victory. Several program records were set this season, including most goals scored in a season (40), most goals scored in a single game (8), and most individual goals scored in a season (
Rachel Hoekstra (Bowmanville, Ontario/Clarington Central ) – 12). The Knights also placed four on the All-NEC First Team.
Congratulations to everyone involved on a fantastic season!
