TEANECK, N.J. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's soccer team will wrap up nonconference action this weekend with games against NJIT and Binghamton. The Knights will travel to Newark, N.J. to take on the Highlanders of NJIT on Friday, Sept. 14 with kickoff slated for 4:30 p.m. at Malcom Simon Stadium before hosting Binghamton on Sunday. The tilt with the Bearcats is slated for Sunday, Sept. 16 at University Stadium.
After beginning the season with three ties through the first four games, the Knights recently won two games to move to 2-2-3 on the year. They will be looking to increase their win total before Northeast Conference competition begins. FDU most recently defeated Patriot-League foe Lafayette College, 1-0 with a goal from freshman Amanda Goulet (Quebec City, Quebec/Shattuck-St. Mary's ). Goulet was named NEC Rookie of the Week for her performance.
Freshman Rachel Hoekstra (Bowmanville, Ontario/Clarington Central ) leads the team with four goals and one assist on the year, while junior Sage DoVale (Lilburn, Ga./Collins Hill) has been a mainstay in the net with a save percentage of .778, a goals against average of 0.78 and three shutouts.
The Knights have outshot opponents, 87-64 through seven games with a goal advantage of 9-7. The team is averaging 12.4 shots per game, while holding opponents to 9.1.
The Highlanders are 2-5-1 on the season with losses to Rider, Marist, Rhode Island, Temple and Wagner. They defeated Saint Peter's in the first game of the season and fell to NEC opponent, Monmouth before playing Quinnipiac to a 0-0 tie.
Under second-year Head Coach Sergio Gonzales, the Highlanders were picked to finish fourth in the preseason Great West coaches' poll. After going 2-17 last year, NJIT returns 12 players and has 12 new players.
With three goals each from senior Gechi Ukaegbu and freshman Erin Williams-Weir, the Highlanders have trailed 8-10 in goals on the season and 74-111 in shots. NJIT averages 9.2 shots per game, while allowing opponents to take 13.9 shots per game. Freshman goal keeper, Samantha Bersett, has allowed 1.19 goals per game, while recording a .792 save percentage and two shut outs.
Binghamton enters the weekend with a 5-1 record but will face St. Bonaventure on Friday before traveling to Teaneck. They have compiled wins against Bucknell, Niagara, Lehigh, Siena and most recently Cornell and fell to Saint Joseph's, 3-0.
Senior Sarah Furminger scored in Wednesday's 2-1 win over Cornell and leads the team with five goals and an assist, while classmate Jamie Holliday has two goals and four assists. The Bearcats have five other members of the team with one goal each. Juniors Stephanie Speirs and Carrie Martin split time in the net. Both have maintained a .833 save percentage, while Speirs holds a 0.86 goal against average and Martin has a 0.82 average.
Fifth year Head Coach Sarah McClellan's squad boasts 23 returning players from last year's team that went 7-10-1. The team includes 12 seniors and eight freshmen.
The Bearcats have been outshot, 68-77 through six games this year but have outscored opponents, 12-5. They average 11.3 shots per game, while giving up 12.8 opportunities.
Sunday's game can be viewed live at NECFrontRow.com.
