Northwestern Live Stats | Loyola Chicago Live Stats

TEANECK, N.J. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson women's soccer team kicks off the 2014 season with the Marquette Invitational this weekend, with matches against Northwestern and Loyola Chicago on August 22 and August 24, respectively. Kickoff in Milwaukee, Wis. is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday night and at noon on Sunday.

The Knights have already had a sucessful preseason, having defeated the likes of Iona, 1-0, and Hosftra, who is picked to win the Colonial Athletic Association, 2-1, on Long Island.
 
Last Season
The Knights ended the 2013 regular season in a tie for second place in the Northeast Conference with a 4-1-3 record, 8-8-4 overall; earning the #2 overall seed. It was FDU's fourth trip to the NEC Tournament and first since 2008. The core of the team, including six All-NEC performers, remains intact, as all starters from a year ago return except 2013 NEC Goalkeeper of the Year Sage DoVale (Lilburn, Ga./Collins Hill). A major boost for first-year head coach Eric Teepe is the return of 2012 NEC Rookie of the Year Rachel Hoekstra (Bowmanville, Ontario/Clarington Central ), who suffered an injury after her freshman campaign that caused her to miss all of last season. The former First-Team All-NEC selection tied a program record with nine goals during her rookie year.
 
Tepee has added six new faces to the program, providing depth all across the pitch. FDU has been projected to finish fourth, and to return to the postseason, by the annual NEC preseason coaches' poll.
 
Northwestern
2013 Season:  3-14-2 (1-10 in Big Ten)
When: Friday, August 22nd – 6 p.m.
Where: Milwaukee, Wis. (Valley Fields)
Series History: 0-1
Last Meeting: September 15, 2000 – Northwestern 4 FDU 1
What You Need To Know: The Wildcats return much of their team from last season, including minutes-played leader and team captain Julie Alyinovich, but have lost two of their top three scorers – Kate Allen and Julie Sierks. Allen was the teams' assist leader as well with five, and will be hard to replace. Sophomore Jenna Hascher started 14 games between the sticks, made 72 saves, but allowed 1.42 goals per game en route to a 3-9-2 record.
 
Loyola Chicago
2013 Season: 6-8-6 (3-3 in Missouri Valley)
When: Sunday, August 24th – 12 p.m.
Where: Milwaukee, Wis. (Valley Fields)
Series History: N/A
Last Meeting: First Meeting
What You Need To Know: The Ramblers return nine starters, including a quartet of All-MVC selections in defenders Shelby Koch, Hailey Merrill and Mariah Vichich, and senior goalkeeper Monica Gonyo. Also returning is leading scorer Samantha Gage, who tallied four goals on 25 shots. Koch led the team with four assists as a freshman, and Gonyo allowed an average of just 1.09 goals per game last season and currently sits in a tie for second all-time for the most clean sheets in program history.
 
Up Next
The Knights will be on the road again next weekend for two nonconference matchups against Rider (8/29) and Delaware State (8/31).