NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's soccer team was edged 1-0 by Central Connecticut State in the NEC Tournament Championship on Sunday afternoon at CCSU Field. FDU senior Amanda Fitzgerald, sophomore Madelyn Robbins, and freshman Maja Skansberg were named to the NEC All-Tournament Team.

"I am extremely proud of what our team accomplished this season and they played their hearts out in this game," said head coach Eric Teepe. "This team gave everything they had and continuously overcame adversity. Our senior class was a special class and there are better days ahead for them."
 
The Burgundy and Blue (9-6-6) entered the contest looking to be the aggressors against a CCSU (12-4-4) team they had faced twice in each of the past two seasons. The Blue Devils created the contests first quality chance in the sixth minute when they earned a corner kick that was sent in by junior defender Erica Bardes. Fitzgerald was able to jump in the air and catch the corner attempt to prevent a shot on goal. Robbins created a free kick chance in the 10th minute and booted a shot to the left corner of the goal that CCSU sophomore Amanda McQuillan was just able to get a hand on.
 
The Knights earned a corner kick after McQuillan punched the ball out of play that Skansberg that was caught by McQuillan. Fitzgerald then stepped up for the Knights as Bardes was able to get behind the FDU defense, but the senior goalie made a diving save to her left in the 13th minute. The Blue Devils struck with a goal in the 18th minute off the foot of NEC Midfielder of the Year sophomore Roma McLaughlin. McLaughlin was able to get behind the Knights defense and fired a right-footed shot that just beat the outstretched arms of Fitzgerald.
 
FDU All-NEC First Team sophomore Christa Waterman attempted the contests next shot, but it was blocked out in front by a Blue Devil defender. Skansberg then serviced in two more corner kicks that the CCSU defenders were able to boot away. Neither team recorded a shot on goal over the final 20 minutes of the first half as each continued to fight for possession and the Knights trailed 1-0 at the end of the first half.
 
The Blue Devils created the contests next scoring chance in the 54th minute when Bardes serviced a ball in that Fitzgerald was able to knock away. FDU junior Chloe Chefero was then able to get around the CCSU defense, but had her shot go just wide to the left. Blue Devil senior Emily Hogan fired the games next shot in the 65th minute that Fitzgerald made a great save on. Fitzgerald came up huge again in the 67th minute and stopped a shot off the foot of Bardes.
 
The Knights offense was able to march back down the field after the Bardes shot and Skansberg fired a shot that went just wide of the goal. FDU's season-leading scorer junior Alexiane Marquis then created a scoring chance in the 73rd minute that went out of play to the right.
 
The Blue Devils offense threatened in the 76th minute when Bardes sent in a left-footed boot that hit the upper crossbar and CCSU senior Yo Tachibana was there for the rebound, but Fitzgerald made an incredible diving save to her left to keep the deficit at 1-0. The Knights created their best chance of the second half in the 87th minute when Waterman was able to get behind the CCSU defense and her shot fired a shot inches to the left of the goal. FDU senior Jackson Bennett attempted the final shot of the game in the 88th minute, but the shot was blocked.
 
The Burgundy and Blue attempted seven shots on the game and Fitzgerald recorded four crucial saves. The Knights attempted four corner kicks and had 14 players enter the contest.
 
The FDU senior class graduates with 31 career wins in their four years on campus. Fitzgerald graduates as the all-time program leader in saves, shutouts, and career save percentage.