TEANECK, N.J. - The Fairleigh Dickinson men's soccer team kicks off the 2018 campaign this weekend with a pair of matches, taking on Rider University Friday evening at 7 p.m. before returning to Teaneck and playing host to Army in their home opener on Monday evening at University Stadium.
The matchup against Army on Monday will also be available via live stream on NEC Front Row.
A preseason pick to finish third overall in the NEC, FDU is hoping to capitalize off of a strong regular season in 2017 that saw the Knights go 10-5-3 (3-2-2 NEC) en route to an appearance in the conference tournament semi-finals.
KICKING THINGS OFF
Friday will see the commencement of the 2018 campaign, and the Knights are hoping to start things off on the right foot with a win on the road. FDU has won the inaugural game of the season just once in the last four seasons, that win coming last year against Lafayette by a final of 2-0.
ALL-TIME SERIES
The Knights are 19-15-3 all-time against Rider, with their last win against the Broncs coming all the way back in 2000, a 3-2 victory. The two squared off most recently last season when Rider came away with a 2-1 win. The Knights are also 2-2 all-time against Army, knocking off the Black Knights 2-1 last year at West Point.
SCOUTING THE BRONCS
FDU will get a strong test in its first matchup of the season, going against a Broncs squad that was picked to finish second overall in the MAAC 2018 preseason poll. Rider is led by graduate student and French international Elliot Otmani, a two-time All-MAAC selection and the 2015 MAAC Championship MVP. Otmani led the Broncs with nine goals and 20 points last season, including two game-winners.
SCOUTING THE BLACK KNIGHTS
The Black Knights finished the 2017 campaign with a 9-6-2 overall record, including a 3-4-2 mark in Patriot League action. Army boasts a stout defense led by Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Zac McGraw, who in 2017 helped the Knights post a conference-best 14 goals against in just 16 games. FDU took down Army on the road last season courtesy of some late-game heroics from Fredinho Mompremier, who scored the go-ahead tally in the 89' to seal the W for FDU.
CAPTAINS SELECTED
The 2018 Knights boast a lot of experience on the squad, returning almost every member from the 2017 campaign that saw them make a run into the conference semi-final. The Knights will lean heavily on that experience in 2018, naming Alvaro Rubio, Wojciech Piwowarczyk, and Ahu Obhakhan as team captains for the year. The trio combined to play 42 games for the Knights in 2017, and Obhakhan led the Knights in total scoring with 16 points (7G, 2A).
