For the first time since 2004, the Fairleigh Dickinson University women's soccer team is heading to the Northeast Conference Tournament.
A pair of weekend wins in conference ? capped by a 3-1 decision against visiting Robert Morris University, Sunday, Nov. 2 ? enabled the Knights (8-10 overall) to post a 5-4 record in league play. Their 15 points secured the No. 4 seed in the upcoming weekend's four-team tourney.
“This is exciting,” Head Coach Renee Montana said. “We came out today with one thing in our control, the outcome on this field. We had a great game plan and we executed ? things fell into place and we're headed to the NEC's.”
As a boisterous crowd assembled at University Field in Teaneck, NJ for Senior Day and Alumni Day, Sacred Heart University hosted Saint Francis University (PA) in Fairfield, CT. A goal in the 82nd minute of regulation by the Pioneers pushed the game into overtime, in which a 1-1 tie ultimately ensued. Meanwhile back in NJ, Montana's team took care of business, striking early and often.
Two of the squad's five departing players, junior forward Lora Lehr (Rosemere, Quebec/Villa Maria) (Rosemere, Quebec) and senior forward Emma Yamada (/LaSalle Academy) (Saunderstown, RI), accounted for Fairleigh Dickinson's first two tallies.
Lehr ? who finished the afternoon with four points ? found the back of the net in the 10th minute, marking her sixth goal of the season. Junior midfielder Christine Niven (/Middleboro) (Middleboro, MA) won a ball and found Yamada at the top of the box. Lehr accepted a pass from her fellow forward, turned, and deposited an attempt lower left.
Slightly more than two minutes later, Lehr made a run down the right side and skimmed a pass along the turf to Yamada around the six-yard box. The senior buried her team-best second game-winner of the year to give the Knights a 2-0 stronghold.
Midfielder Rashidah Sherman (Pelham Manor, NY/Pelham Memorial) (Pelham Manor, NY) registered her team-leading eighth goal in the 75th minute, working a give-and-go with Lehr. The freshman headed the ball ahead and exploded past her defender. She finished lower right.
In the 84th minute, an FDU defensive lapse broke the pending shutout and created a 3-1 contest. Sophomore forward Cathleen Caggiano (Moon Township, PA) notched her sixth goal of the fall, following a feeder courtesy of freshman midfielder Jess Sharik (North Huntington, PA). Sharik thwarted a clearance effort and pushed a pass to Caggiano who converted lower left, while FDU senior goalkeeper Rachel Derrico (/Canon McMillan) (Canonsburg, PA) was rushing out to cut off the angle.
Derrico improved to 6-5 on the season and made four saves. Defender Amanda Wheeler (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) (Marlton, NJ) and midfielder Zaida Castillo (/Bishop George AHR) (Plainfield, NJ) joined Derrico in the pre-game Senior Day festivities.
Fairleigh Dickinson will take on the No. 1 seed, and host, Long Island University at 11:00 a.m., Friday, Nov. 7. The NEC Tournament will be featured at an off-campus location. Aviator Field, which is part of Marine Park and located in Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY, will serve at the venue.
