Box Score

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Fairleigh Dickinson men's soccer team knocked off nationally ranked American University on Sunday afternoon.  The Knights (2-3) scored in the 89^th minute to force overtime against the previously undefeated Eagles (5-1).  FDU won the match two minutes into the second overtime on a goal by junior Enver Caymaz (Pompton Lakes, N.J./Pompton Lakes).

In the 102^nd minute, junior Jordon Ellison (Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) sent a cross into the box that was met by Caymaz and chipped past the keeper for the game-winner.

Ellison also recorded the assist on FDU's 89^th minute goal.  He sent a pass into the box that was deflected into the net by freshman Javen Palmer (London, England/Sedgehill) for the tying score.  The goal was the second of the match for Palmer.

The Knights pressured the Eagles late in the second half with FDU earning corner kicks in the 80^th and 81^st minutes before scoring the tying goal in the 89^th minute.

"What a gutsy win against a very good American team," head coach Seth Roland said after the match.  "The guys showed tremendous character fighting back to pull even twice and then eventually win in overtime. It was one of those proverbial character-building wins that shows what we are capable of when we play with focus and determination."

"We have lots to work on because we could have done better on the three goals we allowed, but by scoring four goals we showed we can be dangerous in attack, and that's very important. Playing two games in less than 48 hours taxed us physically, but we showed we are slowly getting fitter. We definitely took some positive steps forward this weekend."

American jumped out to a 2-0 over the first 12 minutes of action, but FDU quickly rallied and tied the match at 2-2.

The Knights got on the board in the 15th minute on a goal by senior Tchamy Dantse Dantse (Darmstadt, Germany/Gymnasium-Gernsheim) with the assist going to junior Christian Dietrich (Berlin, Germany/Flatow-Oberschule).  Dietrich sent his corner kick into the box where Dantse Dantse was able to finish with a header.

FDU tied the score in the 28th minute on Palmer's first career goal.  Dietrich worked a give-and-go with freshman Leo Dalesandro (Queens, N.Y./St. Francis Prep), which setup Palmer to tap the ball in for the score.

American's first two goals came in the 10^th and 12^th minutes.  After FDU tied the match, the Eagles reclaimed the lead on a goal by Dale Ludwig in the 42^nd minute.

Palmer's two goals are the first of his season and career.  Dietrich and Ellison each recorded two assists.  For Ellison, the assists are his first in the Burgundy and Blue.

The Eagles outshot the Knights 22-13 in the match, but after halftime the shot totals were a more even, 7-6 in favor of FDU.

Defensively, sophomore goalkeeper Matthew Weigner (Warrington, Pa/Central Bucks South) faced 11 shots on goal and posted a career-high eight saves. 

FDU's last victory over a ranked opponent came on October 1, 2013 as the Knights defeated #11 St. John's at University Stadium.  FDU won that match by a score of 2-1 in overtime.

The Knights return to action on Saturday, September 19 at Army West Point.