Box Score
MILWAUKEE – The Fairleigh Dickinson women's soccer team got its 2014 campaign underway in fine fashion with a 1-0 victory over Big Ten opponent Northwestern thanks to Rachel Hoekstra (Bowmanville, Ontario/Clarington Central )'s second-half goal and Felicia Burr (Bellingham, Mass./Blackstone-Millville )'s five saves. With the victory, the Knights, under new head coach Eric Teepe, move to 1-0 and the Wildcats fall to 0-1.
 
"It was a good way to start the season," Teepe said. "Obviously we're trying to make a statement to ourselves for what we can do this year and what we can be. Tonight was a good step towards that mentality where we know that we can play with any team as long as we're committed to the game. Our level of commitment today was outstanding." 

Hoekstra, a 2012 First Team All-Conference selection and Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year, sat out all of last season due to injury but returned with a bang when she produced the game-winning goal in the 47th minute, a right-footed shot from outside the box, assisted by junior midfielder Amanda Goulet (Quebec City, Quebec/Shattuck-St. Mary's ).
 
Burr's play between the pipes preserved the one-goal lead in her first start following the graduation of last year's NEC Goalkeeper of the Year Sage DoVale (Lilburn, Ga./Collins Hill). 

Freshman Dara Battistoni (Pleasant Valley, N.Y/Arlington) made the first start of her collegiate career in defense, and Audrey Butcher (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) also came off the bench for the Knights to spell Hoekstra late in the first half. 
 
FDU wraps up the Marquette Invitational against Loyola Chicago on Sunday, Aug. 24. Kickoff from Valley Fields is slated for 12 p.m.