TEANECK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's soccer team will host the Bryant University Bulldogs on Sunday at University Stadium, with a 12 p.m. start time in a conference battle of the top two NEC teams in the standings.

The Knights currently own a record of 6-5-4, 5-0-1 NEC and have 16 points in NEC action. Bryant is 6-3-3, 4-0-2 NEC, which is good for 14 points. The winner of the match will have sole possession of first place.

FDU returns home after a three-game road stretch in which the Burgundy and Blue posted a 2-0-1 record. The Knights will round out NEC action with three of the final four contests at University Stadium. At this point in the season, FDU is 2-1-2 in home games and are on a two-game home winning streak following wins over Merrimack and Central Connecticut State University.

Since head coach Eric Teepe's arrival in 2014, the Knights are 6-0 against Bryant, including a 2-1 win over the Bulldogs in the 2017 NEC Semifinals. In last season's meeting, FDU recorded a 1-0 victory against Bryant led by a goal from senior Jackson Bennett in the 58th minute. Fellow senior Amanda Fitzgerald recorded four saves in last year's contest.

Fitzgerald has recorded 70 saves, four shutouts, and has posted a goals against average of 0.88 to this point in the season. The senior captain has also been named NEC Defensive Player of the Week three times this season for her play. In three of the FDU's past four games, Fitzgerald has posted shutouts and a total of 16 saves. She owns a save percentage of 0.843 in her 14 games played. The senior has held opponents to a goal or less in 10 of the Knights 14 contests.

In conference play, the Burgundy and Blue's offense has scored two or more goals four times in the six contests. The Knights goals per game average is 1.40 and shots per game is 14.3. Junior Alexiane Marquis and freshman Maja Skansberg lead the offense by each posting three goals and three assists respectively. Marquis netted FDU's two goals in the 2-1 conference win over Saint Francis U. Skansberg was named NEC Rookie of the Week on October 8 after posting a goal and an assist in the Knights 3-0 victory against Sacred Heart.

Sophomore Lea Egner has netted three goals and two assists for eight points, which is the second most points on the team. Junior Sofia Albertsson is third on the team with five points and has two goals as well as an assist. Sophomores Madelyn Robbins and Christa Waterman and junior Viktorija Miseljic each have scored four points respectively. There have been 13 Knights that have recorded at least two points thus far this season.

The Burgundy and Blue's defense has posted a goals against average of 1.07 and only allowed 15.3 shots per game. FDU seniors Samantha Roff has started every game for the backline. Junior Chloe Chefero and senior Julia Shea have also appeared in every contest on defense. Sophomores Christa Waterman, Paula Ruess, and Noam Kedem have also started game on the defensive end this year.

Bryant enters the game having won three of the past four contests and are currently in second place in the NEC standings. Offensively, the Bulldogs have netted 1.33 goals per game led by senior Remi Manna who has scored four goals and dished out two assists. Bryant junior Amanda Spitaleri is second on the team with three goals and two assists. Sophomore Lexi Kraemer and junior Kylie Ratelle are third and fourth on the roster with five and four points respectively.

The Bulldogs defense has held opponents to under one goal per game by only allowing 0.87 goals per contest. Senior Caitlyn Linden and junior Jamie Irwin have started all 12 contests for Bryant's defense. Junior goalie Meghan Dalton has allowed a goal or less in 10 of the Bulldogs 11 contests. In conference play, the netminder has posted a goals against average of 0.47 goals per contest. Dalton has recorded 54 saves this season, which is good for a save percentage of 0.831.

Following the Bryant contest, FDU will travel to St. Francis Brooklyn on Friday, October 25 for their final away game of the season with a 1 p.m. start time.