NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's soccer team netted a goal in each half to lift the Knights to a 2-0 victory over Bryant in the NEC Tournament Semifinal on a chilly Friday night at CCSU Field. The Knights are now 2-0 all-time against Bryant in the NEC Tournament and 8-3-2 overall in head-to-head matchups.

The Burgundy and Blue will return to action on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. when they face No. 1 Central Connecticut State in the NEC Tournament Championship. This is the fourth time that FDU will appear in the NEC Championship in program history.

"I felt our team effort tonight was fantastic as we came out strong and I thought this was one of our better games this season," said head coach Eric Teepe. "Every single player that stepped onto the field was into it and when you are united like we were tonight, you can do a lot of positive things. Now we have to bring the same energy on Sunday as we have a tough team to play."

FDU (9-5-6) opened with the contests first shot when sophomore Lea Egner beat the Bryant defense, but had her shot go just wide of the mark. Bryant (9-4-4) marched back down the field and senior Caitlyn Linden rose up and sent a header high of the goal. In the eighth and ninth minute, Bryant created a pair of quality chances in which FDU senior Co-NEC Goalkeeper of the Year Amanda Fitzgerald recorded saves on.

After possession continued to go back and forth over the next eight minutes before the Knights earned a corner kick. Egner serviced the ball in, but Bryant junior goalie Meghan Dalton was able to punch it away. Burgundy and Blue freshman Maja Skansberg was able to get behind the Bulldog defense in the 18th minute and rifled a left-footed boot that was saved by Dalton. Bryant junior Amanda Spitaleri attempted the contests next shot by entering the box with the dribble before Fitzgerald stopped the shot again. FDU senior Jackson Bennett then marched back down the field and fired a shot on goal that was saved by Dalton.

In the 24th minute, the Bulldogs earned a penalty kick and sent sophomore Corrine Rey to attempt the kick. The sophomore sent the ball toward the upper half of the goal, but Fitzgerald was able to make an outstanding save on the ball to help turn the momentum in FDU's favor. "That save by Amanda was huge and she has made terrific saves like that throughout her career," said Teepe. "The penalty kick save helped give us more confidence." Bryant's season-leading scorer senior Remi Manna then attempted another shot in the 30th minute that Fitzgerald again made a play on.

The Knights then broke the scoreless tie in the 36th minute when junior Sofia Albertsson dribbled the ball up the field and passed it over to Egner, who beat Dalton with a left-footed boot. "Sofia did a great job of creating a seam and finding Lea, who was able to find the back of the net through contact," said Teepe. The goal was Egner's fourth of the year and Albertsson dished out her second helper of the season. Neither team got another shot on goal over the final nine minutes of the first half as FDU took a 1-0 lead into the locker room.

FDU looked to stay aggressive entering the second half of action as they earned a corner kick in the 47th minute that Egner serviced in, but was cleared out. Bryant senior Marissa Grasso recorded the contests next shot in the 53rd minute as FDU senior Julia Shea forced her into a tough shot that Fitzgerald saved. Albertsson then marched down the field and rifled a shot in the 58th minute that went just wide of the goal. The Knights fought and got the ball back to earn a corner kick. Egner serviced in another ball and All-NEC First Team selection Christa Waterman marched into the box and sent a header just over the goal.

The Burgundy and Blue then doubled their lead in the 63rd minute when sophomore Paula Ruess was able to outmuscle everyone and find the back of the net. "Paula did a great job of finding the ball that was bouncing around and she hit it really well into the back of the net," said Teepe. The goal was Ruess' first of her career and came at a huge moment to give the Knights a 2-0 lead.

Each team traded possession for the next 10 minutes before redshirt senior Alison Guilmette fired in a shot that again was saved by Fitzgerald. Skansberg in the 81st minute was able to dribble her way through the Bulldog backline and sent in a shot that was stooped by Dalton. After the Guilmette shot in the 75th minute, the Knights defenders did not allow another shot attempt and prevailed 2-0 over Bryant.

The Burgundy and Blue had 15 players enter the contest. Fitzgerald recorded seven saves in the game and now has eight shutouts on the season, which is now tied for the program record for shutouts in a season. The Knights and Bulldogs each attempted 12 shots.