TEANECK, N.J. - The Fairleigh Dickinson men's soccer team was defeated at home Friday evening by the Bryant Bulldogs 1-0. The loss moves the Knights to 3-5-3 on the season, including a 0-1-1 mark in NEC play.
The Knights return to action on Sunday, October 7 when they head to Central Connecticut for a clash with the Blue Devils.
Fredinho Mompremier led the Knights offensively with four shots and three shots on goal. The Knights out-shot the Bulldogs 10-2 on the evening.
"I feel terrible for the guys," head coach Seth Roland said. "The energy and effort we put in tonight was admirable. I think we deserved a better fate, but it doesn't happen if you don't finish your chances."
Friday's matchup was the second straight game the Knights finished with a dominant performance in terms of shot totals but failed to convert a single chance.
Early on it looked like it would be a matter of when instead of if, as the Knights came out firing on all cylinders to start things off.
Wojciech Piwowarczyk had a great look in the 2' off of a free kick, however his effort sailed high.
Mompremier kept up the pressure, playing like a man possessed as he almost single-handedly created three separate goals for FDU.
The striker fired off a pair of back to back chances in the box within 15 seconds of each other, however both efforts were swallowed up by Bryant keeper Oliver Larente to keep FDU off the board.
Mompremier nearly scored again in the 39' after a beautiful move in the box to turn and elude a Bryant defender while keeping possession of the ball, but the strike was one again snuffed out by a well-positioned Larente.
The Knights rallied again to start the second half, earning a pair of corners in the 50' that nearly found their way in. After collecting the volley into the box, Ahu Obhakhan fired a hard strike that connected with the post and bounced to a waiting Anthony Herbert, however Herbert's effort was somehow blocked away by another miraculous save from Larente.
After one more effort from Daniel Lasarte was blocked away, the Bulldogs were able to take advantage of their only real dangerous look of the game in the 84' as Ben Williams collected a ball into the box before calmly slotting home a strike into the lower left corner to put Bryant up 1-0 with just six minutes to play.
One final bout of pressure from the Knights proved fruitless in the end and the Bulldogs closed things out to hold on for the 1-0 victory.
"I'm proud of the effort from all the guys," Roland said. "We played well, but you're not getting it done if you don't put the ball in the back of the net, and that is something we have to figure out."
