TEANECK, N.J. – Senior Samantha Roff netted the game-winning goal in the 77th minute to lift the Fairleigh Dickinson women's soccer team to a 2-1 conference victory over Merrimack on Sunday afternoon at University Stadium.

The goal from Roff was her first career goal as a Knight. This was the first-ever meeting between FDU and Merrimack.

"Today we created a lot of chances and forced the Merrimack defenders to make plays on the ball," said head coach Eric Teepe. "Finding ways to win is important and I felt we did a great job in doing so. This game was a great step for our program and now we have to prepare for Central Connecticut State."

FDU (3-5-3, 2-0-0 NEC) came into the game aggressive offensively as sophomore Lea Egner got past the Warrior defense and rifled a shot that was saved by senior Erin Fulton in the fourth minute. Egner and senior Jackson Bennett also created the games' next two chances with a pair of shots that went just wide of the goal.

Merrimack (2-7-0, 0-3-0 NEC) created its best chance of the first half when junior Taylor Robertson booted a shot that was saved by a diving senior Amanda Fitzgerald in the 19th minute. The Knights offense later responded with their best chance of the first half when freshman Maja Skansberg serviced a ball that found the foot of Egner, who attempted a boot that was saved by Fulton in the 28th minute.

Merrimack attempted the first shot of the second half, and Fitzgerald recorded a save on the play.  Sophomore Alexiane Marquis then sent a through ball to Skansberg, who booted a left-footed shot that beat Fulton in the back of the net in the 47th minute. The goal was Skansberg's second of the season, and Marquis recorded her second assist of the year.

The Warriors responded right away after Skansberg's goal with a goal of their own when Molly Murnane recorded a shot in the middle of the field that was saved by Fitzgerald, but Murnane scored off the rebound from her previous shot.

Merrimack freshman Hallie Shiers then created a scoring opportunity that was saved by Fitzgerald in the 60th minute. FDU junior Viktorija Miseljic then attempted her first shot of the game in the 68th minute as she got behind the Warrior defense but Fulton recorded a save to keep the match tied.

The Burgundy and Blue created a corner kick opportunity in the 77th minute that was serviced into the box by sophomore Madelyn Robbins. Robbins' pass found senior Jackson Bennett, who fired a shot that was saved, but Roff was there to put the ball into the back of the net. Bennett was credited with her first assist of the season on the goal from Roff. "We were all happy to see Sam put the ball into the back of the net for her first career goal," said Teepe.

Merrimack junior Nicole Langlois fired a shot on net in the 80th minute but Fitzgerald came up with a big save. "We can always count on Amanda to come up with big saves for us," said Teepe. The Knights responded with a shot attempt from Skansberg that went just wide of the mark. Murnane came looking for her second goal of the game in the 87th minute but again was denied by Fitzgerald. Shiers attempted a last-second chance that went over the net as the Knights won the game 2-1.

Fitzgerald recorded six saves in the contest for FDU. The Knights outshot the Warriors 23 to 15 in the game. The Burgundy and Blue played 16 players in the contest.

The Knights will return to action on Thursday at 7 p.m., when they host conference foe Central Connecticut State at University Stadium.