TEANECK, N.J. - The Fairleigh Dickinson men's soccer team (5-5-3, 3-0-2 NEC) plays host to first-place LIU (9-2-2, 5-0-0 NEC) on Sunday, October 17, as the Knights welcome former student-athletes back to the banks of the Hackensack for
Alumni Night at University Stadium in Teaneck as part of the University's
Family and Friends Weekend. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Match Info
FDU (5-5-3, 3-0-2 NEC) v. LIU (9-2-2, 5-0-0 NEC)
Sunday, October 17, at 7 p.m. -- University Stadium (Teaneck, N.J.)
Coverage:
NEC Front Row |
Live Stats
In-Match Updates:
@FDUKnightsMSOC
FDU Spectator Policy
All-Time Series
FDU leads 33-31-6
Streak...W1
First Meeting...1955 (FDU 2, LIU 1)
Last Meeting...3/15/2021 (FDU 3, LIU 2 [OT])
Scouting the Sharks
Undefeated in Northeast Conference action, LIU heads to the Garden States coming off a 3-1 win over Merrimack at home on October 14. The Burgundy and Blue will look to shutdown the Sharks' points leader in sophomore Emil Jaaskelainen. The Bolton, England forward has logged 23 points on 11 goals and one assist in 13 matches played this season, starting each. In goal, FDU will most likely face junior Demetri Skoumbakis who's started all but two of LIU's fixtures this season. Skoumbakis boasts a goals allowed average of 0.64 on nearly 1,200 minutes played in fall 2021. Sunday's visitors' two losses both came in non-conference action as LIU suffered defeats at the hands of Stony Brook in their season opener back on August 26, a 1-0 loss for the Sharks. At home on September 8, Hofstra left Brookville with a 1-0 victory. LIU's match with the Knights is the start of a three-game road trip after the Sharks played few contests at home. Sticking with the number three, LIU has won three of their conference matches by a two-goal margin, the two have been decided by a lone score.
Scouting the Knights
Returning home for the first time since September 30, the Knights seek to extend their unbeaten streak in the NEC this season. On October 14, Seth Roland's Knights battled to a double overtime 3-3 draw with Central Connecticut State. Sophomore Tony Gomez put his team on the board first, delivering a 2' strike with a header off a corner kick by freshman Kevin Leonhard. With the game tied 1-1 in the 43' Leonhard would record a goal of his own off an assist from junior Edoardo Calzola to give the Knights a 2-1 advantage over the Blue Devils. In the 49' and 61', Central Connecticut would tack on two more to take the lead by a 3-2 tally. With five minutes to play in the second half, sophomore Hugo Bacharach headed off a free kick by senior Diego Arribas to tie the fixture. CCSU would have a shot at victory in the 88' when a penalty kick was called. The shot was saved by redshirt junior goalkeeper Spencer King to keep the match level and send the contest to the first overtime period in New Britain. Check out the video below.
Coach Roland's Thoughts
"LIU is flying this season at 5-0-0 in NEC play and 9-2-2 overall. They have an outstanding team that is dangerous in attack from the run of play, as well as off set pieces. Jaaskeilenin has 11 goals already and scores with his head and both feet while Ben Fall is explosive going to goal. They are solid defensively and play with tremendous confidence. It's a big challenge for us on Alumni Night."
What's Next
Roland's side enjoys some more home cooking as the Knights are set to welcome St. Francis Brooklyn in the second-to-last home match of the regular season on Sunday, October 24, at 7 p.m. live on NEC Front Row from University Stadium in Teaneck. The final home test of the fall 2021 campaign comes on Halloween when FDU will welcome new NEC associate member Howard for
Senior Night, kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
The 2021 men's soccer season is presented by
Bogota Savings Bank.
