Box Score
Box Score
Newark, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's soccer team defeated in-state rival, NJIT, 3-1 on Friday, Sept. 14. With the win, the Knights improve to 3-2-3 on the season, while the Highlanders fall to 2-6-1.
Four first-half goals determined the outcome of the game, as the Knights held the 3-1 advantage after the first 45 minutes of play with goals from Julie Woolridge (St. John's, Newfoundland/Bishops College), Lindzy Williams (Washington Township, N.J./Westwood) and Rachel Hoekstra (Bowmanville, Ontario/Clarington Central ).
“We did a great job shooting from distance and getting out to a comfortable halftime lead,” said Head Coach Marco Masucci. “We were extremely compact and organized throughout the game, once again limiting the opposition to very minimal outside space.”
The Knights began their attack early on with a shot from the left side of the penalty box by Woolridge that tested the NJIT goal keeper. A few minutes later FDU was fouled near the end line and set Woolridge up for a direct kick. She placed the ball into the box where it found the back of the net to put the Knights up 1-0 in the sixth minute.
In the ninth minute, NJIT produced a shot from outside the penalty box that challenged Knight goal keeper, Sage DoVale (Lilburn, Ga./Collins Hill) who made a leaping save to stop the ball in the air.
Midway through the half NJIT pressured the Knights with a corner kick. The Highlanders got a shot off that was blocked by freshman defender Amanda Goulet (Quebec City, Quebec/Shattuck-St. Mary's ) but the block created pandemonium inside the six-yard box. The Highlanders were able to take possession and shoot from close range earning Megan Dellavalle a goal to tie the game at one in the 26th minute.
Just two minutes later, Chanice Rhoden (Pickering, Ontario, Canada/Dunbarton High School) ran the ball from the backline up the left sideline and dished the ball into the box where Williams beat the Highlander backline and put the Knights up 2-1.
The Knights continued to pressure NJIT with a continuous stream of calculated passed through the midfield in the first half. With one minute remaining in the first half Hoekstra received the ball from a throw in 30 yards from the net. She took several touches before firing into the box and putting the Knights up 3-1.
FDU led the Highlanders in shots, 6-3 in the first half, with five shots on goal.
The Highlanders pressured the Knight back line early in the second half and produced several shots that tested DoVale but were unable to add to their goal total.
The teams battled for possession in the midfield for the majority of the second half. In the 70th minute NJIT produced a run through the middle of their offensive territory. Senior defender Francesca Yaccarine (Freehold, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) fought the striker in the penalty box to avoid a further scoring opportunity for NJIT.
The Knights held the Highlanders scoreless for the remainder of the game to hold onto the win.
FDU outshot NJIT 7-6 through 90 minutes and produced five shots on target compared to the Highlanders' three.
DoVale made two saves to earn her third win of the season.
“There were quite a few big individual performances and goals from three players that have been getting better and better every single game,” added Masucci. The win guarantees us at least a .500 record through nonconference play and we're hoping to win a tough one on Sunday.”
The Knights conclude their nonconference schedule with a final home contest on Sunday, Sept. 16. Kickoff against Binghamton is slated for noon.
