TEANECK, N.J. - The Fairleigh Dickinson men's soccer team (2-3-1, 0-0-0 NEC) welcomes Cornell (3-1-0, 0-0-0 Ivy) to University Stadium on Saturday night in the final home non-conference fixture for the Burgundy and Blue in the fall 2021 campaign.
Match Info
FDU (2-3-1) v. Cornell (3-1-0)
Saturday, September 18, at 5 p.m. -- University Stadium (Teaneck, N.J.)
Coverage:
NEC Front Row |
Live Stats
In-Match Updates:
@FDUKnightsMSOC
FDU Spectator Policy
All-Time Series
Cornell leads 7-0
Streak...L7
First Meeting...1995 (Cornell 4, FDU 2)
Last Meeting...9/14/2019 (Cornell 1, FDU 0)
Scouting the Big Red
Having not participated in the 2020-21 fall-to-spring season, the Cornell Big Red come into University Stadium 3-1-0 in their first season since 2019. The side returns 17 players from their 2019 team, which finished third in the Ivy League - the Big Red's best finish since the 2012 season when the side won the league title. Junior Connor Drought (second team), senior Emeka Eneli (honorable mention) and fifth year Harry Fuller (honorable mention) return as All-Ivy League selections in 2019. Fifth year Charles Touche (first team) and senior Tate Keir (second team) were All-Ivy League selections in 2018. Currently, Cornell is ranked No. 3 in the United Soccer Coaches Northeast Region, behind New Hampshire - who the Knights played in the first round of the 2019 NCAA tournament - and Vermont.
Scouting the Knights
The Knights enter Saturday's match coming off their first draw since March 29 at Merrimack (0-0 2OT). On September 14, the side scored early against Lehigh with freshman Kevin Leonhard booking his first collegiate points in the 2' to give the Burgundy and Blue a 1-0 advantage. That lead would only sustain until the 63' when Lehigh's Josh Luchini headed in a beautiful ball from the Mountain Hawks' Jack Sarkos. Senior captain midfielder Ideal Shefqeti led the Knights in shots, firing off six attempts in the match, while Leonhard's three shots-on-target where the most on the team. Junior Vinícius Cadengue started in goal for the Knights and played the full 110 minutes of action in the double overtime affair, recording three saves and allowing one goal (63'). Senior Diego Arribas leads the Northeast Conference in assists with three on the year, while the team as a whole leads the conference in assists per game with seven total this season, averaging 1.17 assists per game. Through six games this season, the Knights' nine goals is the most in the NEC. Seth Roland's Knights have plenty to look forward to heading into the start of NEC action as the defending fall conference champions were selected fourth in the league's preseason poll.
Coach Roland's Thoughts
"Cornell may be the best team we face this season. They are incredibly fit, press you all over the field, are relentless in their pursuit of the ball and have several dangerous players going to goal. This will be an interesting challenge for us to see how we deal with their constant pressure. They're picked to finish second in the Ivy League which is a strong soccer conference. It should be a stressful and exciting game!"
What's Next
FDU closes out the non-conference portion of their schedule on Tuesday, September 21, at Hofstra at 7 p.m. live on FloSports. Conference play for the Burgundy and Blue begins at University Stadium in Teaneck on Sunday, September 26, at 7 p.m. live on NEC Front Row.
The 2021 men's soccer season is presented by Bogota Savings Bank.
