Box Score
The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's soccer team dropped its second Northeast Conference contest, 4-2, to Quinnipiac on Friday, Sept. 30 at University Stadium in Teaneck, NJ. Two goals in the first three minutes allowed Quinnipiac to take the win and advance to 2-5-1 on the season (1-1 NEC), while the Knights fall to 3-4-1 (0-2 NEC).
Just two minutes into the game, Quinnipiac won a throw in close to the FDU net. Bobcat point-leader, Furtuna Velaj, received the ball from Beck Kiting just inside the penalty box and shot to the lower right corner of the net. Knights' goal keeper, Stephanie Tanzi (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown West) was unable to stop the shot and the Bobcats took a 1-0 lead.
Thirty seconds later, Shauna Edwards passed the ball to Crystal Burns at the top of the penalty box where Burns laid in a shot to the lower right hand corner. With Burns' goal the Bobcats took a 2-0 lead.
The Knights gained composure and took control of the ball in the midfield but were unable to produce any scoring opportunities.
In the 19th minute, Velaj scored her sixth goal of the season after challenging Tanzi in the box. Velaj dribbled through the left side of the penalty box before shooting the ball past a diving Tanzi in a one-on-one situation. With 27 minutes remaining in the half, the Knights trailed 3-0.
The Bobcats continued to challenge the FDU backline with three scoring opportunities in the next ten minutes. In the 26th minute, FDU senior Rashidah Sherman (Pelham Manor, NY/Pelham Memorial) took control of the offense and rocked a shot that was blocked by a Quinnipiac defender.
The Knights produced four consecutive shots through the end of the first half and went into the break with an offensive mentality.
Lisa-Marie Curti (Richmond Hill, Ontario/St. Theresa of Lisieux) started the second half with an offensive surge for the Knights. Curti ripped a shot that was blocked in the penalty box by a QU defender in the 52nd minute and put the Knights on the board in the 55th minute.
An FDU corner kick was laid perfectly into the center of the box by Amy Flanagan (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) but was knocked down by the Bobcat defense. Curti intercepted the clear and headed the ball past QU keeper, Jill Kelley, to give the Knights their first goal of the match. It was Curti's second goal of the season.
The Bobcats responded with a goal from Edwards in the 60th minute. A corner kick was placed in the far corner where Kiting took a shot that was blocked by Tanzi. Edwards took the rebound and shot to the right post, giving QU a 4-1 lead.
Freshman Lilja Gunnarsdottir (Kopavogur, Iceland/Menntaskolnn I Reykjavik) played a cross from the right side to classmate Alexa Tirelli (Slate Hill, NY/Minisink Valley) in the 73rd minute. Tirelli received the ball and placed it in the net near the right post to bring the Knights' deficit to just two goals. It was Tirelli's first collegiate goal.
The Knights were unable to create further scoring opportunities in the final minutes of the game and suffered the loss, 4-2.
Tanzi earned her second loss of the season, while recording six saves. The Knights took a total 10 shots, including four on goal, while QU recorded 13 shots.
The team will take a quick break and return to the pitch on Sunday, Oct. 2 for a matchup with Central Connecticut State University. CCSU held Bryant to a 1-1 tie on Sept. 30.
