TEANCECK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson women's soccer team will host NEC rival Central Connecticut State University on Thursday night under the lights at University Stadium starting at 7 p.m. FDU will also travel to NEC opponent Sacred Heart on Sunday for a 1 p.m., match.

The Knights currently own a record of 3-5-3 and are 2-0-0 in NEC action with six conference points. The Burgundy and Blue's two conference victories have come over LIU by a 2-0 margin on the road, and Merrimack (2-1) in the Knights lone game last weekend.

FDU senior goalie Amanda Fitzgerald has won NEC Defensive Player of the Week twice this season and has recorded two shutouts. Fitzgerald's two shutouts came against Rider and LIU, which gives her 13 career shutouts. The netminder has recorded a total of 53 saves this season, including a career-high 12 saves against non-conference opponent West Virginia. Fitzgerald is on pace to break her goals-against average of 1.22 last season with her 1.16 mark so far this season.

The Knights offense has scored four goals thus far in conference play to improve its goals per game average up to 1.36 per game. FDU sophomore Lea Egner has recorded a team-high eight points on the year with three goals and two assists. Egner also consistently gets behind the opposing defense as she has created a team-high 23 shot attempts. Freshman Maja Skansberg has made an impact early in her FDU career with two goals, two assists, and six points, which ranks second on the team. Skansberg recorded the first goal in the 2-1 win over Merrimack with a left footed boot from just inside the box from junior Alexiane Marquis.

Junior Sofia Albertsson and Marquis have recorded five and four points, respectively, for the Knights offense. Eight members of the FDU team have scored a goal this season, including senior defender Samantha Roff who netted her first career goal when she buried the game-winner against Merrimack. The Burgundy and Blue's offense have also dished out 12 assists this year.

Roff leads a Knights defense that has only allowed 1.36 goals and 15.9 shots per game. Fellow seniors Julia Shea and Stasi Torchia have consistently controlled play by keeping the ball in front of them and making plays on the ball when needed. Sophomore Christa Waterman has started all nine games she has played in and junior Chloe Chefero has played in all 11 games for the Knights defense.

FDU will be looking to get revenge on the defending NEC champion CCSU on Thursday night. The Burgundy and Blue fell 2-1 in both matches a season ago, including 2-1 in the NEC Semifinals. Senior Jackson Bennett scored the Knights goal off a pass from sophomore Madelyn Robbins in the semifinal match. The Burgundy and Blue had won the previous three meetings in the rivalry before last season.

Central Connecticut State (3-3-4, 1-0-1 NEC) is led on offense by sophomore Roma McLaughlin's five goals, which is tied for the NEC lead in goals scored. CCSU's offense has averaged 1.60 goals and 12.4 shots per game. Junior defender Erica Bardes leads the NEC with five assists on the year and plays a role in the Blue Devils defense that only allows 1.10 goals per game. Sophomore Amanda McQuillan has recorded 34 saves in net and has a goals against average of 1.03.

On Sunday, the Knights will travel to Sacred Heart for a 1 p.m. match. FDU has won three of the previous five games between the two teams. Sacred Heart (5-4-2, 2-0-1 NEC) has averaged 1.09 goals per game led by freshman Michelle Clarkin who has an NEC-leading 12 points with five goals and two assists. Fellow freshman Azria Malloy has three goals for the Pioneers. The Pioneers have 21 freshman on the roster, including goalie Elyssa Kipperman who has recorded 58 saves and a goals allowed average of 1.27. Defensively, Sacred Heart allows 1.37 goals per game.

Following the Sacred Heart match, the Knights will travel to face Saint Francis (Pa.) on Friday, October 11, at 3 p.m.