Freshman Samson Malijani (Lusaka, Zambia, /La Sapienza) (Lusaka, Zambia) blasted a golden goal in the 91st minute to lift the Fairleigh Dickinson University men's soccer team to a 1-0 win over visiting Saint Francis PA on Sunday afternoon. The Knights improve to 9-3-3 overall and remain undefeated in Northeast Conference play with a 6-0-1 record. The Red Flash fall to 7-6-3 overall and the Knights handed them the first league defeat of the season as they fall to 4-1-2 in league play.
One minute and 59 seconds into the first overtime, with 8:01 remaining on the clock, junior Pino Tubito (East Hanover, NJ/St. Thomas Aquinas) (East Hanover, NJ)found Malijani in front of the net. From 18 yards out, Malijani hooked in the winning goal just inside the right post. The ball deflected into the goal to give FDU the win and notch his seventh goal of the season and fifth game-winning goal of the season.
Fairleigh Dickinson goalkeeper Elvir Prasovic (Astoria, NY/Newcomers) (Astoria, NY) made three saves to earn the shutout between the posts for the Knights. Brad Williams made two saves in net for the Red Flash. The Knights out-shot the Red Flash, 10-7.
The Red Flash had several chances to get on the board, but the Knights' defense stifled them all. Fifteen minutes into the first half, Kwame Adjeman-Pamboe had a chance but it was knocked away by sophomore defender Marcos Morales (St. Charles, IL/St. Charles) (St. Charles, IL). With six minutes remaining in regulation, senior defender Dan Goonin (Minneapolis, MN, /Toms River North) (Minneapolis, MN) squashed a breakaway attempt by the Red Flash.
“This was a good win for us today,” said Head Coach Seth Roland. “Saint Francis PA is a very solid team and I'm happy we were able to come through with the winner in overtime.”
The Knights are back in action at Monmouth on Friday, October 27 at 1:00 p.m. in West Long Branch, NJ.
