TEANECK, N.J. – A closely fought Northeast Conference match with the LIU Sharks ended in a 1-0 setback for the Fairleigh Dickinson men's soccer team Friday night at University Stadium.
 
The Knights (5-6-2, 1-2-2 NEC) came into the match a point ahead of the Sharks (5-6-1, 2-1-1 NEC) in the NEC standings, and the two teams traded offensive chances along with tough defensive play through the first 60 minutes of the contest. LIU, however, broke through with a goal in the 62nd minute, and a flurry of FDU shots over the final 20 minutes could not cross the goal line.
 
"Typical NEC battle, very competitive," head coach Seth Roland said after the match. "We knew that one goal was going to decide it, and we came out on the wrong side of the score. We competed hard, but we need a little more quality and sharpness in the attacking third. We just have to keep working."
 
FDU goalkeeper Jahmali Waite recorded four saves in the loss, and the Knights as a team outshot the Sharks in the match, 15-10.
 
The Knights were aggressive on the attack early, taking the game's first five shots. Freshman Peter Kozlej let loose two tries on goal, including one in the 11th minute that required a save from LIU goalkeeper Demetri Skoumbakis.
 
Waite pounced on the first opportunity for the Sharks in the 14th minute for his first save of the night, and he made another stop on a shot from Papa Ndoye in the 26th minute to keep the game scoreless. The junior later made his best save of the match on a try from Keanu Tuart in the 37th minute, leaping high to his left to snatch a free kick try from going into the net.
 
The two teams entered halftime knotted at zeroes, and FDU defended well an early second-half chance from LIU before redshirt sophomore Adrian Barajas headed a corner kick try that deflected off the right post.
 
FDU later looked poised for another chance as the game approached 30 minutes to go, but the LIU defense redirected the Knights cross and went on the counter attack. Passes from Ndoye and Tuart ultimately found Xavi Verdu on a header for the LIU goal with less than 28 minutes left.
 
Another header from Barajas off a corner kick sailed high of the net in the 72nd minute, and a long shot from redshirt senior Daniel Lasarte missed its mark as FDU pressed for an equalizer. With less than 10 minutes to go, sophomore Joshua Ferreira broke free past the LIU backline and tried a crossing left-footed shot that bounced off the goalkeeper. A scramble for the ball, however, ended with an LIU defender booting the ball out of danger.
 
A late shot from freshman Jared Dillon also went high of the net, and with seconds to go, sophomore Fallou Tounkara collected a loose ball in front of the 18-yard mark and drilled a hard shot that crossed over the bar.

The Knights next host NEC rival St. Francis Brooklyn on Saturday, October 26, at University Stadium for a 7 p.m., match. Preceding the game is an Alumni Game as part of a full-slate of Alumni Day activities.