TEANECK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson men's soccer team begins its 66th season on Friday night, traveling to take on Bucknell at 7 p.m.
 
Fans not able to attend Friday night's game in Lewisburg, Pa., can follow the Knights on live stats and view the game on the Patriot League Network free of charge.
 
2019 SEASON OUTLOOK
The Knights were picked third in the Northeast Conference Preseason Poll after finishing fourth in the NEC a season ago. FDU has reached the NEC Tournament in each of the last two years and are looking to return to the tournament for the 17th time in 23 years this season. Head coach Seth Roland embarks on his 23rd season leading the Burgundy and Blue, and his 2019 team consists of four seniors, seven juniors, five sophomores and 13 freshmen.
 
The Knights play their first three games of the season on the road, also playing at Lafayette on Tuesday, September 3, and at Connecticut on Friday, September 6, before hosting Gonzaga on Sunday, September 8, at 1 p.m., for their home opener at University Stadium. FDU plays three more non-conference home games – September 17 vs. NJIT (7 p.m.), September 21 vs. Princeton (7 p.m.) and October 2 vs. Iona (7 p.m.) – before hosting three straight NEC home games from October 13-26 and then the season finale against Mount St. Mary's on November 10.
 
TEAM CAPTAINS
Roland has named three captains for the 2019 season in senior Wojciech Piwowarczyk, junior Jahmali Waite and sophomore Ideal Shefqeti. Piwowarczyk will anchor the Knights backline that led the NEC last year in fewest goals allowed per game. A first-team All-NEC goalkeeper last season, Waite led the NEC in goals-against average (0.89) and was second in save percentage (.792). Shefqeti was a NEC All-Rookie selection last season and will start in the midfield for the Knights this year after scoring two goals as a freshman.
 
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Returning to the Knights as seniors are defenders Wojciech Piwowarczyk, Quentie Kyeremateng and Gabriele Lanzani as well as midfielder Daniel Lasarte. Lasarte is a starter in the Knights midfield, contributing a goal and two assists in 2018. Kyeremateng and Lanzani provide depth on the backline for the Knights.
 
The junior class along with Waite includes forward Diego Arribas, who contributed two goals and four assists last season to lead all returners with eight points. Adrian Barajas, Rocky Garretson and Kaskile Zawadi will also play key roles for the Knights this season, while Nark Miranda and Steven Ortiz provide depth for the Knights in the midfield and in goal, respectively.
 
Shefqeti and returning NEC All-Rookie team honoree Anthony Herbert highlight the sophomore class. Herbert, who also earned second team All-NEC as a defender, is also a stalwart in the Knights backfield and scored his first career goal in helping the Knights defeat CCSU last year. Sophomores Joshua Ferreira and Fallou Tounkara will look to take on expanded roles this season along with fellow classmate Noah Chia.
 
The freshman class consists of defenders Julian Gibson, Jake Gross and Jared Subarsky; forwards Jared Dillon, Janbi Kaghado and Nardi Lita; goalkeepers Spencer King and Andre Perez-Santalla; and midfielders Ville Ahola, Alonso Arrieta Roldan, Peter Kozlej, Sebi Morrello and Jonathan Santos. All will look to make their first impressions in the 2019 season.
 
SCOUTING BUCKNELL
The Bison also open their season when they meet the Knights on Friday night. FDU is one of three NEC teams, along with Mount St. Mary's and Saint Francis U, that Bucknell plays in its non-conference schedule. Bucknell was picked to finish eighth in the Patriot League Preseason Poll after going 6-8-3 last season. The Bison return Patriot League All-Preseason Team midfielder Matt Thorsheim, who was named Third Team All-Patriot League, United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-Region and College Soccer News Third Team Freshman All-America as a freshman. Thorsheim is one of 19 returners on the Bucknell roster this season.
 
AROUND THE NEC
Five other NEC teams also begin their seasons on Friday, and the rest of the conference teams open their respective 2019 seasons within the following three days. Conference play starts Friday, September 27, but the Knights begin their NEC slate two days later at Robert Morris.