The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's soccer team snapped a five-match skid, Sunday, Sept. 28, at University Field in Teaneck, NJ.  After a four-game road swing, the Knights (3-6) shut down Lafayette College, 2-0, and improved to 2-1 at home this season.

After 45 minutes of constant rain, the match was scoreless at halftime.  But in the 63rd minute, senior forward Emma Yamada (/LaSalle Academy) (Saunderstown, RI) collected the game-winner.  The play originated on a free kick just inside midfield, with senior defender Amanda Wheeler (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) (Marlton, NJ) arcing a service into the box.  Yamada challenged a clearance by Leopards (2-7-2) sophomore goalkeeper Brittany Futterknecht (Demarest, NJ), eventually flicking the ball into the upper right corner.

Some creative passing, punctuated by an athletic finish, gave FDU a 2-0 cushion in the 89th minute.  Wheeler stormed across the 50, evaded an oncoming Leopard, and slid a square pass to junior midfielder Emma Howes (Avalon Beach, Sydney, Australia/Barranjoey) (Avalon Beach, Sydney, Australia).  Howes continued to spread the field finding an overlapping junior midfielder Lora Lehr (Rosemere, Quebec/Villa Maria) (Rosemere, Quebec) with a feed down the right side.  Lehr dribbled just inside the 18, slid a shot around a defender while hitting the turf ? ultimately connecting on the attempt, lower left.

“This is a good win and we'll look for this momentum to carry over to next weekend,” Head Coach Renee Montana.  “It always feels good to defend your home turf.”

Junior goalkeeper Megan MacKellar (/Brookwood) (Lilburn, GA) notched four saves to earn her first shutout of the season.  Lafayette's Futterknecht finished the afternoon with five stops.

Fairleigh Dickinson opens Northeast Conference play Friday, Oct. 3 at Mount St. Mary's University.  The opening tap is slated for 4:00 p.m. in Emmitsburg, MD.