HACKENSACK, N.J. – The 2017 edition of Fairleigh Dickinson women's soccer gets underway on Friday against Temple at 7 p.m. at University Stadium.
The Knights are coming off their four straight Northeast Conference Tournament appearance last season where they lost to eventual champion and 2017 preseason favorite Saint Francis U in the semifinals. Fairleigh Dickinson won its first NEC Title back in 2015.
PRESEASON POLL
Fairleigh Dickinson was tabbed third in the NEC Preseason Poll and picked up one first-place vote in the process. Saint Francis U was picked first and Central Connecticut was second. The Knights have been top three in the preseason poll in each of the last three seasons.
THE SCHEDULE
Fairleigh Dickinson plays four first-time opponents in 2017 – Eastern Washington, Gonzaga, Niagara and William & Mary – during non-conference play. The Knights visit Buffalo this season for the first time ever. The two sides have not met since 2004 – 3-1 win for Fairleigh Dickinson. This year in NEC play, the Knights get Central Connecticut, Wagner, LIU Brooklyn and Mount St. Mary's at University Stadium.
SCOUTING TEMPLE
The Owls finished 3-16 overall and 0-9 in American Athletic Conference play in 2016. Gabriella McKeown was the leading scorer last season with 10 points (4G, 2A) for her senior season. Sarah McGlinn and Kayla Cunningham were second on the team with five points each. Jordan Nash started 18 of 21 games last season in goal and recorded 1600 minutes between the pipes with a 1.46 GAA.
SCOUTING HARTFORD
The Hawks went 13-5-1 overall and a 6-1-1 mark in America East play a season ago. The Knights and Hawks met up in Hartford last season with the Hawks winning 3-2. Hartford advanced to the America East championship game where it lost to No. 1 seed Albany, 2-1. Five different players had 10 or more points last season for Hartford, led by Julia Carr's 17 (6G, 5A). Jessica Jurg played every second of the 1,739 minutes in goal last season and allowed less than a goal per game.
RETURNING ALL-LEAGUE
Jessi Reinhardt and
Elma Kolenovic return in 2017 after earning First Team All-NEC last season. Reinhardt led the team with 18 points (5G, 8A) and Kolenovic was second with 14 (6G, 2A).
Kristina Neri was Second Team All-League on defense and a trio of Knights made All-Rookie Team;
Amanda Fitzgerald,
Samantha Roff and
Stasi Torchia. Torchia scored twice for the Knights and Fitzgerald started 19 games last season in goal and posted a 2.21 GAA.
TEEPE CLOSING IN
Head coach
Eric Teepe is six wins from becoming the all-time wins leader. Teepe has 37 career wins in his three seasons so far in Teaneck. Teepe is also six wins from becoming the wins leader in NEC play. Teepe has 19 wins through three seasons against conference foes.
