ROCKAWAY, N.J. – The ninth-ranked Fairleigh Dickinson women's bowling team opened the 2018-19 season Friday with three wins in five matches in the first day of the Caldwell University Classic.
 
The Knights played five baker total pin fall matches to start the tournament, earning a win in the first game of the day, then dropping the next two, before ultimately ending the day with two more wins. FDU compiled a baker total of 4,427 on the day, averaging 177.1 per game, and sit in fifth place after the first day.
 
In the process, the Knights defeated two NEC opponents, including ranked Saint Francis U, along with St. Francis Brooklyn.
 
"I'm pleased with how we salvaged the day with a couple of solid match victories against conference foes to close out the day," said head coach Mike LoPresti at the end of the day. "Still, we struggled mightily and made far too many errors and at times even routine shots became difficult. I guess you can say that we really played like it was the first day of the season."
 
In their first game of the day, the Knights combined to score a 906 on their way to a win over Felician University, 906-774.  The Knights won the first game, 210-187, but dropped the second one, 157-144, to even up the match. A 213-135 win in the third game and a 172-134 win in the fourth game earned the Knights the overall victory. The Knights then took a close fifth game, 167-161, as well.
 
Facing Molloy College for the first time, the Knights dropped the second match by a score of 910-870. The Knights dropped the first game by two points, 180-178, before rallying back with a 189-184 win in the second game. FDU then fell short in the third game before rallying back with a 16-148 win in the fourth frame, but the Burgundy and Blue ultimately fell in the fifth game, 215-181.
 
Against 24th-ranked Kutztown, the Knights won games two (169-162) and five (200-179) but struggled in the first, third and fourth games in losing to the Golden Bears, 911-816.
 
The Knights faced 13th-ranked Saint Francis U in the fourth match, capturing wins in games two (212-156), four (246-201) and five (196-192) on their way to a 949-923 overall victory.
 
FDU closed out the day with a close 886-876 triumph over NEC-rival St. Francis Brooklyn. The Knights won the first game, 214-170, but dropped the next three games. Needing to beat the Terriers by seven points in the final game to earn the win, the Knights came up big with a 198-181 win to seal the points victory.
 
"I believe in this team," LoPresti continued. "We have the ability to play well. Tomorrow, after today's experience, I fell we'll turn it around."
 
Saturday's tournament play shifts to five traditional team matches, with the Knights scheduled to face three ranked opponents – no. 8 Delaware State, no. 12 Sacred Heart and no. 15 Adelphi – along with host Caldwell and Bloomfield as well.
 
Check back here at fduknights.com for updated results after the end of play Saturday.