TEANECK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson women's soccer team embarks on the program's 19th season this Thursday when it faces Marshall at University Stadium at 7 p.m.
The 2018 Knights enter the season with hopes of returning to the Northeast Conference tournament for the sixth straight year after sharing the regular-season title last season. The Knights advanced to the tournament championship for the third time in four years and battled Saint Francis U to a scoreless draw after two overtimes before ultimately falling in penalty kicks.
"Every season is a new year," said head coach
Eric Teepe in the
season preview video. "Hopefully we can find a way to get back into the tournament and worry about it from there. But first we have to get there before worrying about the next step. If we can get to the final again, then we can worry about how we can take that next step."
PRESEASON POLL
Fairleigh Dickinson was selected second in the recently released NEC preseason coaches' poll. The Knights earned three first-place votes, one shy of Saint Francis U. Central Connecticut and Bryant each received a first-place vote as well. The Knights have been selected in the top three in the preseason poll in each of the past four seasons.
NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Fairleigh Dickinson plays in 10 non-league contests to start the season, beginning with Marshall Thursday at 7 p.m. and followed by a trip to Providence for a 1 p.m. match. Marshall and Providence are two of four first-time opponents for the Knights, who also play Ohio-based Cleveland State and Kent State for the first time at a tournament hosted by UNC Wilmington Aug. 31 and Sept. 2, respectively.
KNIGHTS ROUNDTABLE
Sophomore
Sofia Albertsson, the reigning NEC Rookie of the Year and a first team All-NEC midfielder, is one of four returning all-conference players on the Knights in 2018. Albertsson led the Knights with nine goals and 22 points in her rookie season. Junior defender
Samantha Roff also made first team All-NEC in 2017, and junior goalkeeper
Amanda Fitzgerald earned second team All-NEC while also making the NEC All-Tournament squad, saving a program single-season record 79.7 percent of her shots faced. Sophomore
Viktorija Miseljic (six goals, five assists, 17 points) also returns after earning All-Rookie honors last season.
SCOUTING MARSHALL
Marshall is coming off a 5-13-1 campaign in 2017, with three of its five wins coming against Conference USA foes. The Thundering Herd return its leading scorer in junior Jordan Sackaris, who scored five goals and assisted one to earn 11 points. Senior Ashley Seltzer and sophomore Rene Ross each led the team with three assists. Junior Megan Bonelli started 15 of 17 games in goal last season, making 78 saves while compiling a 1.75 goals against average over 1,386 minutes.
SCOUTING PROVIDENCE
Providence finished 10-8-2 in 2017 and advanced to the Big East semifinals for the second time in three seasons. The Friars were tabbed with fourth place in the 2018 Big East preseason poll. Sophomore Hannah McNulty led the Friars with nine points on three goals and three assists, and senior Casey Estey also scored three goals in 2017. Redshirt-sophomore Shelby Hogan returns in goal, making 83 saves and compiling a 1.05 goals against average over 1,800 minutes in 20 games.
RECORD WATCH
Senior
Elma Kolenovic begins the season fifth in program history in career points (46) and sixth in career goals (18). Kolenovic needs six points to reach the top four in points and one goal to reach the top five in goals. The senior also ranks in the top 10 in Knights history in career assists (10).
