EASTON, Pa. – The Fairleigh Dickinson men's soccer team suffered its first loss of its season, with Lafayette prevailing 1-0 Tuesday night in a non-conference matchup.
After conceding a goal late in the first half, the Knights (1-1) pushed to counter throughout the second half, taking seven of their nine shots in the game in the latter period. Senior
Daniel Lasarte led the charge with four shots, including three on target, but the Burgundy and Blue were unable to push across a tying goal.
"Lafayette is a tough team to play against," head coach
Seth Roland said after the game. "They are very fit, aggressive and relentless. I thought we were reluctant to try and keep the ball against their defensive pressure in the first half."
FDU junior goalkeeper
Jahmali Waite saved five shots in the match. He made four of his stops in the second half, including three within a minute span late in the half to help keep the Knights within striking distance.
The Leopards sent two shots off target in the first 10 minutes, with the Knight defense holding strong to deny the Leopards in their attacking half. Waite made his first save of the night on a left footed shot by Martin Ssessanga, diving to his right to deny the shot and keep the match scoreless.
The Knights then defended multiple Lafayette corner kick opportunities before freshman
Jared Dillon broke free up the field in the 21st minute and crossed a shot from left to right that just missed sneaking inside the right post.
Sophomore
Ideal Shefqeti later had a left-footed shot saved in the 31st minute, but Lafayette continued to pressure the Knight defense late in the opening stanza. Junior
Rocky Garretson placed himself in front of a header off a corner in the 39th minute, saving what otherwise looked to be a Leopards goal.
Lafayette, however, did break through with a goal in the 41st minute on a set piece header by Christian Williams, taking the one-score advantage into halftime.
The Knights started the second half on the attack, with Lasarte ripping a shot on goal that was saved to set up a corner kick. The Leopards, however, guarded their goal to keep the score at 1-0. Five minutes later, sophomore
Joshua Ferreira flicked a header shot off a
Diego Arribas free kick just wide of the net in another scoring chance for FDU.
"We spoke at halftime about how we had to go out and try to establish some possession and try to be more dynamic in attack," Roland continued. "I thought we accomplished both in the second half and were unlucky not to grab a couple of goals."
Lasarte and Arribas continued to pepper Lafayette goalkeeper Alex Sutton, with Lasarte getting off a clean line drive that forced a diving effort to save in the 59th minute. Then with 20 minutes to go, the senior raced up the field to meet a long pass, and he beat his defender to his left before lining a hard shot into Sutton's hands.
Waite then made a series of great saves to keep the Knights down just one goal. He first blocked a point-blank shot in the box before also deflecting the rebound shot out of play. He finally punched the ensuing corner kick shot out of harm's way to deny the Leopards with less than six minutes to go.
The Burgundy and Blue, however, could not create an equalizer in the closing minutes as the Leopards held on for the win.
"Credit to Lafayette for their defensive determination," Roland added. "Lots for us to improve on but lots of positives as well."
Freshman
Nardi Lita made his FDU debut in the match, subbing in at forward for 10 minutes in the second half.
FDU closes out its season-opening road swing Friday night when it takes on American Athletic Conference foe Connecticut at 7 p.m. The match will be played at Al Marzook Field on the campus of the University of Hartford due to renovations taking place at UConn's home field.
Bogota Savings Bank is the presenting sponsor of the 2019 men's soccer season.
