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This Weekend's Game - The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's soccer team (2-2) travels to Albany, NY to face University of Albany (1-4) on Friday, September 9 before it travels to Drexel (1-2) on Sunday, September 11 at 1:00 p.m.
All-Time Series - The Knights are 2-2 against Drexel all-time, last meeting resulting in a 3-2 loss on Sept. 12, 2004.
The Knights hold a 5-0 record all-time against Albany.
About the Great Danes - Albany is 1-4, most recently coming off a 2-0 shutout win over Siena on Monday. The Great Danes got goals from sophomores Elana Maccou and Alicia Gibson.
About the Dragons - Drexel opened its season with a 6-0 rout of New Jersey Tech. The Dragons fell to La Salle, 3-1 and then 1-0 to Long Island for an overall record of 1-2. The Dragons will face its third NEC opponent in as many games when they match up against the Knights, playing at Wagner on Sept. 8.
Last Time Out - Senior Ana Moniz scored two goals and dished out an assist to lead the Fairleigh Dickinson University women's soccer team to a 4-0 shutout win against the visiting Temple Owls on Monday afternoon at University Stadium. The Knights improve to 2-2, while the Owls fall to 0-3 overall.
The Knights began scoring in the 16th minute when junior Christine McCartney created an opportunity, getting the ball to senior Kristen Habenicht , who found Moniz.
Moniz blasted a shot from 12 yards out, deflecting it off a defender into the bottom of the net to put the Knights ahead, 1-0.
Sophomore Tonya Hipsman fed Moniz a cross from the right side of the field that she buried in the 38th minute to send the Knights into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
In the second half, freshman Natalie Bellini netted her first goal of the season off a feed from Habenicht, dribbling in from 20 yards out and blasting it in to the upper left side.
McCartney recorded her third goal of the season in the 73rd minute when Moniz found her 10 yards outside the box and she ran through the center, pushing in the ball and making the final 4-0.
Junior Courtney Smith started the game in goal for the Knights making one save. Freshman Rachel Derrico played between the posts for the second half of the game, making three saves. The Knights and Owls were tied in shots, with nine apiece.
"We played a team that was very hard working," said Head Coach Peter Gaglioti. "We finished some chances that we created. At the end of the day, even though we won, we weren't as sharp as we could have been."
"It was good to get some players minutes and all players given the opportunity did well," said Gaglioti. "It's good to know that later in the season we will be able to depend on our depth. We had a solid performance by two goalkeepers, Courtney and Rachel. It was good to see the goalkeepers are each able to do an incredible job."
Next Up - The Knights are back in action when they host Binghamton on Friday, September 16 at 3:30 p.m.
Receiving Praise - For the first time in program history, the Fairleigh Dickinson University women's soccer program received votes in the Soccerbuzz Mid-Atlantic region (46 teams).
"It's a tremendous honor to be recognized as a program who is being considered one of the best in the region," said Head Coach Peter Gaglioti. "We are being included among names of schools with solid programs and it is showing that the people who voted respect what we've accomplished so far."
McCartney Draws Attention - Fairleigh Dickinson University's Christine McCartney was named the Brine/NEC Women's Soccer Player of the Week on Monday. She is the first Knight to earn the honor this season.
McCartney, a junior transfer from University Texas-El Paso, came up big in her FDU debut, scoring twice and registering an assist in the Knights' 3-0 shutout of Syracuse on Friday. The Orange, predicted to finish third in its division in the Big East, could not contain McCartney, who led Texas-El Paso in scoring last season with 24 points.
She scored on a cross from senior Kristen Habenicht with seven minutes left in the first half, then rebounded her own shot with 12 minutes remaining in the second stanza for her second tally of the match. With four minutes remaining on the clock, Tonya Hipsman converted a McCartney feed to put the game on ice.
Preseason Poll - The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's soccer team has been picked to finish second in the Northeast Conference in 2005, according to a poll of league head coaches released by the conference on Wednesday. Central Connecticut State has been selected as the favorite to claim the 2005 Northeast Conference women's soccer championship. The three-time defending NEC champion Blue Devils, who have won five conference titles since the league began sponsoring the sport in 1995, were awarded six first place votes, and will look to stave off the challenge of 2004 regular season champion Fairleigh Dickinson, which received two picks for the top spot. Monmouth and 2004 NEC runner-up Sacred Heart tied for third in the poll, followed by Long Island in fifth. Both the Blackbirds and Pioneers were awarded one first place vote apiece. Rounding out the field is Quinnipiac in sixth, followed by St. Francis (PA), Wagner, Robert Morris and Mount St. Mary's.
Last Season - Fairleigh Dickinson, which finished last year with an 8-9-3 overall record, including an undefeated 6-0-3 mark in conference play, turned the tables on the coaches who picked the Knights sixth in last year's preseason poll by capturing the program's first NEC regular season title after sweeping through league play unbeaten. Their league record included a 3-2 win against Central Connecticut on Sept. 26, snapping a 10-game winning streak and accomplishing a feat that hadn't been achieved since Oct. 27, 2002 when St. Francis PA defeated the Blue Devils, 2-1.
Solid Sophomores - Perhaps the most impressive aspect of FDU's season was the fact that over 70 percent of the team's goals came from freshman performers and over 80 percent from newcomers. Embarking upon his sixth year heading the program, 2004 NEC Coach of the Year Peter Gaglioti will have eight starters back in the fold, including the terrific playmaking duo of sophomores Tonya Hipsman (Chester, NY/Chester) and Michelle DeCourcey (Fredericton, New Brunswick/Fredericton). Hipsman, a second team all-NEC forward, was a two-time NEC Player of the Week and three-time NEC Rookie of the Week who led the Knights and finished fifth in the conference in both goals (eight) and points (19). DeCourcey is a skilled midfielder who ranked second on the club with six goals and 14 points. Anchoring an FDU defense that tied for the league lead with six shutouts and allowed just five goals against league competitors is sophomore defender Amanda Wheeler (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee), a first team all-NEC honoree, and senior Danielle McAnally (Wallingford, PA/Strath Haven).
NEC Tournament - The 2005 NEC Women's Soccer Tournament will take place at the home of the high seed on November 4 & 6. The top four teams in the regular season standings will advance to the postseason event. The winner of the NEC Tournament will receive the league's automatic bid to the 2005 NCAA Women's Soccer College Cup.
Outlook - Riding the momentum of their 2004 success, the Fairleigh Dickinson University women's soccer team is looking to build on the recent success of a young program. After proving they belong among the conference's top programs, the Knights return four of the top five scorers from last year's Regular Season Champion squad.
Led by sophomore Tonya Hipsman, who had a team-high 19 points, the Knights are armed with several offensive weapons and are anchored by a strong, impenetrable defense. The 2004 season saw the Knights produce an undefeated conference record of 6-0-3 and the program's first Regular Season Championship. The team was honored with four All-Conference selections and Head Coach Peter Gaglioti being named Coach of the Year by his peers. The Knights were able to clinch the No. 1 seed by defeating Sacred Heart at home in their final regular season game. In the rematch with the Pioneers in the semifinals, the Tournament host Knights fell, 2-1, to end their season.
They enter the 2005 season with one goal: to win the Northeast Conference Championship, earning the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Knights have high hopes and will settle for nothing less.
The Goalkeepers - The Knights have a big hole in goal after losing three-year starter Andrea Maston to graduation. To fill the spot, junior transfer Kyla Clark joins the squad from University of Texas- El Paso, adding experience between the posts. "Kyla has proven to be a quality keeper and has established herself as a legitimate starter," said Gaglioti.
Freshman Rachel Derrico will be competing for time and is a strong, solid goalkeeper. Courtney Smith adds depth to the position in her junior season after starting one game last season.
The Defenders - Seniors Marguerite Ferrell, Debra Flynn and Danielle McAnally lead the defense, having been staples in the back line for three years. Alongside of these three seniors will be sophomore First Team All-Conference selection Amanda Wheeler.
"This core of defenders are the best in the conference," said Gaglioti. This defensive unit, along with solid contributions from senior Jenifer Tarvin, form a strong, solid defense that worked well together last year and will continue to work together to improve on the 34 goals allowed in 2004.
The Midfielders - The Knights have a very strong group in their midfield, with depth and talent at every spot. Seniors Kristen Habenicht and Ana Moniz return to lead the group. Habenicht is looking to end her career with a season much like her sophomore year, when she was named to the All-NEC Second Team after she finished the season second on the team in points with 16 and had six goals, including two game-winners. Moniz has scored seven goals in her career as a Knight, dishing out three assists last season.
Back for their sophomore season after making immediate impacts last year are sophomores Alex White and Michelle DeCourcey. White was third on the team in both points (8) and goals (4). DeCourcey was second with 14 points on six goals, half of which were game-winners, and two assists.
Adding speed and creativity in the midfield is freshman Natalie Bellini. Natalie is an experienced player who is dangerous going forward. "We look for Natalie to not only setup goals but score as well," said Gaglioti.
The Forwards - Second Team All-Conference pick Hipsman returns for her sophomore season after a breakout rookie campaign in which she finished the season leading the Knights in goals (8), points (19) and tied for the team lead in assists (3).
The Knights gain more depth from two players who were out for their freshman seasons due to injury: Meredith King and Shannon Young. Adding speed and goal scoring is experienced Christine McCartney, a junior transfer from University of Texas- El Paso. "Christine is a classic scorer, she has proven herself at this level and we expect her to score many goals for us this year," said Gaglioti.
The Schedule - Gaglioti has again put together a tough schedule for the Knights, opening at home against Big East power Syracuse on Aug. 26. They continue competition against Big East foes with a game at Rutgers on Aug. 28 and then travel to Georgetown on Sept. 3. After hosting Temple on Sept. 5, the Knights have road games at Albany (9/9) and Drexel (9/11). The Knights then host Binghamton (9/16), play at Hofstra (9/18) and host La Salle on Sept. 23.
The team starts off October with the opening of its conference schedule at Sacred Heart (10/2) as they look for revenge after falling to the Pioneers in the semifinals of the Northeast Conference Tournament. The squad then plays host to Central Conn., picked by league head coaches to win the NEC Championship, on Oct. 7 and hosts Alumni Day followed by a game against Quinnipiac on Oct. 9.
The Knights travel out to Pennsylvania to play at St. Francis PA (10/14) and Robert Morris (10/16). They hold their final home games of the season against Monmouth on Oct. 21 and Mount St. Mary's on Oct. 23 before finishing out the season at Long Island (10/28) and Wagner (10/30). The Northeast Conference Tournament will be held at the highest seed on Nov. 4 and 6, with the winner earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
"Our goal this year is to use the success we've had in previous years as a build-up to winning the Regular Season Title and then hosting and winning the NEC Tournament," said Gaglioti. The Knights have all of the tools necessary to achieve that goal and the determination to come out on top.
Head Coach - Veteran soccer coach Peter Gaglioti begins his sixth year at the helm of the Knights. Gaglioti was selected as Coach of the Year by his peers after he guided the Knights to a program-best undefeated league record of 6-0-3, finishing first in the conference. Despite bowing out to Sacred Heart in the semifinals, the Knights were able to continue the momentum from 2003, when they took home a trophy for the program Gaglioti built from scratch and posted a program-record 10 wins.
In addition to his teams' athletic success, his squads have excelled in the classroom. With a 3.14 combined GPA, the Knights were recipients of the NSCAA Team Academic Award in 2002, given to soccer teams whose combined GPA's exceed a 3.0 and have continued to prove themselves academically, winning the award for four straight years.
