LORETTO, Pa. – Fairleigh Dickinson women's soccer junior Alexiane Marquis netted two goals to propel the Knights to a 2-1 victory over Saint Francis U on Friday afternoon at Stokes Soccerplex in a conference match. With the win, FDU has now won four straight matches and are first in the NEC with 15 points.

"I felt as the match went on that we were more aggressive and created better scoring chances towards the end of the first half and throughout the second half," said head coach Eric Teepe. "Our backline did a great job of forcing Saint Francis to attempt tough shots and attacking the ball. We know that every conference game will be a battle and we are happy that we came on the road and were able to pick up a win over a tough Saint Francis team."

The action was back and forth early as each offense moved the ball up the field, but the defenses stood tall early. Saint Francis U (4-7-1, 3-2-0 NEC) earned the contest's first corner kick in the ninth minute and were unable to find the back of the net. FDU (6-5-3, 5-0-0 NEC) senior Jackson Bennett later received a pass in the middle of the field from sophomore Christa Waterman in the 13th minute, but the Red Flash's defense stepped up and just got a foot on the shot of Bennett to prevent a quality shot on goal. Saint Francis countered by earning a corner kick that found the head of sophomore Rhiallie Jessell that went just high of the net.

Burgundy and Blue junior Viktorija Miseljic sent in a service in the 18th minute that just missed the foot of teammate sophomore Lea Egner, who was cutting to the middle of the box. The Knights then earned a corner kick opportunity in the 21st minute that was serviced in by freshman Maja Skansberg, but the Red Flash were able to clear the ball out of the zone. Saint Francis U earned the game's next corner kick opportunity in the 26th minute and the ball eventually found the foot of junior Dakota Graham, who rifled a shot that hit the crossbar.

Marquis then sent in a corner kick in the 30th minute that was headed away by the Red Flash's backline. SFU's season-leading scorer Alyssa McGhee created a dangerous chance in the 32nd minute as she tried to dish it over to Graham, but reigning NEC Defensive Player of the Week Amanda Fitzgerald slid across the box to prevent a shot from being attempted.

The Knights then earned a penalty shot in the 43rd minute and Marquis buried the shot to the top right corner of the net. The goal was Marquis' second of the season as the Knights took a 1-0 lead. "We have always known that Alexiane is very dangerous when she gets the ball on her feet and she showed that today," said Teepe. FDU senior Stasi Torchia then created a chance in the 45th minute that was saved by SFU senior Julia Hernan as the Knights took the one goal lead into the half.

Marquis opened the second half by creating a chance off a nice through ball from sophomore Isabelle Udovc that was saved by Hernan in the 49th minute. The Knights then created a corner kick opportunity in the 53rd minute that found Torchia, but Hernan made a save on the play.

Marquis and the Knights extended the lead to 2-0 in the 57th minute with a left footed boot off a pass from sophomore Paula Ruess. Marquis is now tied for the team-lead in goals with Egner and Skansberg with three goals on the season. Ruess recorded her third assist of the season on the goal by Marquis.

The Red Flash responded with a goal of their own in the 61st minute when McGhee netted her sixth goal of the season with a right footed boot off passes from junior Mariana Jaleca and sophomore Leanna Choo to cut the deficit to 2-1. McGhee tried to even the score in the 72nd minute that went high of the mark on a left-footed boot.

Egner marched back down the field in the 75th minute and fired a shot that was saved by Hernan. Fitzgerald then came up with a big save diving to her left in the 76th minute on a shot from Jaleca. Bennett recorded another Knights shot on goal in the 77th minute that again was saved by Hernan.

The Red Flash created the best chance to even the score in the 79th minute when junior Emilee Barnett attempted a header that hit off the top of the crossbar. SFU earned a corner kick opportunity in the 85th minute that Fitzgerald high-pointed and caught to prevent a shot. Udovc looked to give the Knights a two-goal edge in the 86th minute but had her shot stopped by Hernan. FDU did not allow another shot attempt after the Udovc try to give the Knights a 2-1 conference win.

The Knights outshot the Red Flash 11 to nine, with eight FDU shots going on goal to SFU's two. The Burgundy and Blue had 18 players appear in the match.

FDU will return to action on Sunday afternoon when they travel to Robert Morris in an NEC match starting a 4 p.m.