TEANECK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson men's soccer team dropped its 2016 season opener to the NJIT Highlanders on Friday night, 1-0.  The Knights (0-1) will return to action on Tuesday, August 30 when they host Howard at University Stadium.

The Highlanders (1-0) scored the only goal of the match in the 74^th minute of regulation.  Mamadou Guirassy took a long pass and chipped it over FDU keeper Julian Murillo Toro (Cali, Colombia/Francisco de Pio XII), who had come out of the goal in an attempt to play the ball.

The Knights' starting lineup featured nine players that were playing their first game at FDU.

FDU controlled the ball for most of the second half and developed several scoring chances, including a play where sophomore Ahu Obhakhan (Drogheda, Ireland/St. Joseph CBS) had two shots in quick succession.  The first shot was saved, but not controlled by NJIT's keeper.  Obhakhan swung at the rebound, but pulled his second attempt just left of the net.

NJIT was able to find the back of the net for the game's only goal just three minutes later.

FDU had a handful of chances following the Highlander goal with the first coming in the 77^th minute. Freshman Kenneth Fuentes (Rockville, Md./Magruder) sent a header toward the net, but it was stopped by the keeper.  In the 81^st minute, redshirt freshman Daniel Lasarte (Madrid, Spain/Defiance (Ohio)) shot on goal, but it was saved by NJIT's Victor Pujades.

The Knights best chance came in the 84^th minute after a foul gave FDU a free kick from 20 yards out.  Senior Enver Caymaz (Pompton Lakes, N.J./Pompton Lakes) took the kick - which was spotted near the center of the field - and delivered a strike toward the right side, the shot hit the post and ricocheted to the sideline.

Ninety seconds later, Caymaz sent a header wide for the Knights final shot of the game.

The Highlanders held on for the 1-0 victory with Pujades recording six saves in the victory.

The Knights collected 11 shots, compared to nine for NJIT.  FDU also had six shots on goal.  The Highlanders had two shots on goal, with Toro making a pair of saves for FDU.
FDU had a 4-2 advantage in corner kicks.

The Knights will look to capture their first win of the season against Howard on Tuesday, August 30.  That game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start at University Stadium and can be seen live on NECFrontRow.com.