TEANECK, N.J. - The Fairleigh Dickinson men's soccer team defeated the Sacred Heart Pioneers by a final of 5-0 Sunday evening on Senior Day at University Stadium. The win moves the Knights to 6-6-4 (3-2-2 NEC) overall on the season.
FDU returns to action on Saturday, November 3 when they head to Brooklyn for a clash with the LIU Blackbirds in their regular season finale.
Seven different Knights recorded at least a point Sunday in Teaneck, with all five goals coming from different scorers. Adrian Barajas recorded his first career goal as a member of the Knights, while Diego Arribas recorded his first tally of the season and added three assists. Keeper Jahmali Waite made three saves to earn his fourth clean sheet of the season.
"The guys played a great game today," head coach Seth Roland said. "I'm proud of all of them. Everyone put in an outstanding effort, and everyone was very focused the whole game. It was a good win."
Sunday's game featured some added emotion, as the Knights thanked all eight members of their graduating senior class in a pregame ceremony prior to kickoff.
Justin Depardieu, Fredinho Mompremier, Leo Dalesandro, Patrick Nuss, Marcus Marshall, Alvaro Rubio, Jeremy Despringre and Ahu Obhakhan were all honored for their contributions to the Knights over the years, and it didn't take long for the Knights to channel that emotion in a positive way once the game started.
Barajas made it 1-0 just 12 minutes in after a well placed effort from Leo Dalessandro off a corner fell into the box on the far post. The freshman calmly headed in the effort for his first career goal to give FDU an early lead.
Ideal Shefqeti continued the trend of freshman scoring on senior day just minutes later, finishing off a beautiful give-and-go between Arribas and Obhakhan by picking up the rebound in the box for an easy tap in after SHU keeper Robert Strain made the initial save.
FDU continued to press, dominating play in the attacking third of the field and preventing the Pioneers from establishing any sort sort of momentum.
Wojciech Piwowarczyk added a third marker in the 43', another header off of a beautifully played set piece from Arribas to give FDU a commanding 3-0 lead at the half.
Despite the considerable advantage, FDU continued to play unrelenting soccer into the second half, pushing the pace of play and dictating terms seemingly all night.
Waite was tested with a diving save off of a deceptive looking shot from about 30 yards out in the 65', however the keeper steered aside the effort with no further danger.
Arribas added to his incredible night in the 81', taking a pass from Jacob Labovitz and firing a crushing a 35-yard strike over Strain that sailed bar-down and in to make it 4-0.
Labovitz added his second of the season in the games final minute to put things to bed once and for good as FDU walked away with the 5-0 victory.
