TEANECK, N.J. – Strong defense and a timely goal from freshman Christa Waterman helped carry the Fairleigh Dickinson women's soccer team to a season-opening 1-0 victory over Marshall.
 
"We have to look at this like it's good to get the win, but this could have easily gone to overtime and then we could have lost," said head coach Eric Teepe after the game. "I think through the first 20 minutes we did a really good job of holding the ball and creating chances, and then a combination of Marshall playing us into a lot of pressure and us playing too slow, we got to a point where we felt it was too easy, and we need to know that's not going to happen, especially against a good team like this."
 
Both teams held each other off the scoreboard three-quarters of the way through, but it was the Knights (1-0) that struck in the 76th minute. Pressure up front rewarded the Knights with a corner kick, and freshman Lea Egner crossed the ball in to connect with Waterman, who headed the ball past the goalie for her first career goal.
 
"It's always nice for a player to score their first goal," Teepe said. "She scored against Pittsburgh the other day, so to get another one is great. Viktorija did a great job of drawing two players to her, and that's what the advantage is. If we can get some bodies in there and some good runs, it opens up space for others, and we can be dangerous on set pieces. Hopefully we can continue that."
 
FDU earned the early scoring opportunities, with sophomore Viktorija Miseljic striking three shots in the first 20 minutes to supply the early pressure. The Knight backline of Waterman, senior Julia Shea, junior Samantha Roff and sophomore Chloe Chefero helped keep the Thundering Herd (0-1) away from challenging junior goalkeeper Amanda Fitzgerald through the first 33 minutes.
 
Marshall later pushed for an opportunity late in the half, but Fitzgerald stopped the first shot and then dove to save a point-blank rebound shot attempt as well. The junior goalkeeper made another save in the second half to finish with four in the match.
 

Back-to-back saves from Amanda Fitzgerald keeps this match scoreless late in the first half! #uKnighted #necwsoc pic.twitter.com/gyZi5FfoTE

— FDU Women's Soccer (@fduws) August 16, 2018

 
The shutout was Fitzgerald's eighth of her career. Her 15 goalie wins breaks her tie with former Knights Rachel Derrico and Sage DoVale for second most in program history.
 
Along with Waterman and Egner, freshman Madelyn Robbins made her first career start as a Knight. Freshmen Paula Ruess, Pauliina Talaslahti and Isabelle Udovc all saw their first collegiate action as well.