TEANECK, N.J.- The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's soccer team closed the regular season with a convincing 4-1 win against Mount St. Mary's on Sunday afternoon at University Stadium. It was Senior Day for the Knights and prior to the game, Jackson Bennett, Amanda Fitzgerald, Meghan Griffin, Samantha Roff, Julia Shea, and Stasi Torchia were recognized for their contributions over the course of their four years.

"I felt this was a great way for our senior class, who have done a great amount for this program to go out in a positive way and finish the regular season unbeaten in conference action," said head coach Eric Teepe. "I think the girls will continue to realize they are a tough team and I felt we were aggressive all day. We will need to play our best in the NEC Tournament as all four teams are extremely talented."

With the win, the Burgundy and Blue improved to (8-5-6, 7-0-3 NEC). With the loss, Mount St. Mary's ends their season with a (3-13-1, 2-7-1 NEC) record. The Knights will enter the NEC Tournament as the No. 2 seed and will face off against No. 3 Bryant on Friday at Central Connecticut State University. The Blue Devils will play No. 4 Sacred Heart on Friday night with the winners of both games meeting in the NEC Championship on Sunday.

FDU (8-5-6, 7-0-3 NEC) concluded the conference regular season undefeated for the second time in program history, the previous undefeated team came in 2015 under Teepe and that team reached the NCAA Tournament. The Knights opened the game aggressive as sophomore Lea Egner was able to get behind the defense in the fourth minute when junior Alexiane Marquis sent a through ball to Egner and Mount St. Mary junior Maggie Barron recorded a great diving save on the shot. FDU freshman Maja Skansberg continued to apply pressure on the Mountaineers backline a minute later when she rifled a left-footed shot that was saved again by Barron.

Bennett then attempted the contests next shot in the 11th minute as she fired a right-footed boot that was stopped by Barron. On the Knights ensuing possession, Marquis brought the ball up the field and found Bennett, who was able to rifle a shot to the top-left corner that beat Barron to put the Knights up 1-0. The goal was Bennett's second of the season and Marquis dished out her fourth assist of the season. "I felt Jackson's goal was great as we saw the ball go into the back of the net and became more confident as an offense," said Teepe.

The Knights continued to put the Mountaineers on their heels in the 26th minute when Bennett again fired a shot that Barron recorded a save on. Roff then found open space in the Mountaineer defense and rifled a shot in the 29th minute that was punched out by Barron to earn a corner kick. Mount St. Mary's created their best chance of the first half in the 35th minute when junior Elisabeth Rockhill had a step on the FDU backline, but Shea and Fitzgerald combined to prevent a shot.

FDU freshman Naemi Hausen made a nice move to get past the Mountaineer defense in the 40th minute, but Barron again recorded a save. The Knighs got two more great looks at the goal to end the first half when juniors Alyssa Caggiano and Isabelle Udovc, and sophomore Madelyn Robbins each rifled shots that were stopped by Barron as the Knights took a 1-0 lead into halftime.

Udovc picked up where she left off to end the first half when she got behind the Mountaineer defense in the 49th minute and fired a shot that was saved by Barron. Mount St. Mary's offense responded with a goal in the 51st minute when freshman Kalli Bell serviced a ball in off a free kick that found the foot of Rockill, who evened the score at 1-1.

After the Rockhill goal, the two teams fought for consistent possession for the next eight minutes, before Robbins fired a shot that was blocked and earned a corner kick. Hausen created a shot attempt off the corner that hit the post. The Knights then would find their offensive rhythm again as Udovc, Roff, and Egner all had shots saved by Barron within a two-minute timespan. Fitzgerald recorded her biggest save of the game in the 73rd minute when sophomore Isabella Roberts fired a shot on goal that was stopped by the senior.

On the possession after Fitzgerald's save, Robbins beat the Mountaineer defense and fired a shot from the left side that was saved, but Udovc beat everyone to the ball and was able to bury the go-ahead goal in the 74th minute. The goal was Udovc's second of the season and Robbins recorded her first assist of the year.

 The Knights never looked back after Udovc's goal as less than three minutes later, Robbins set up Marquis for a goal to extend the lead to 3-1. Marquis was able to box her defender out and buried the shot, for her fifth of the season and Robbins tallied her second assist of the day. Marquis netted her second goal of the game in the 82nd minute as FDU took a 4-1 lead, which was the final score of the game.

Marquis led the Knights offense with two goals and an assist. Robbins dished out a pair of assists as well for FDU. Bennett fired off a career high seven shots in the contest and helped the Knights fire 21 shots on goal. Fitzgerald recorded two saves on the day. The Burgundy and Blue had 21 players appear in the game.