NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. – The Fairleigh Dickinson women's soccer team (5-3-2, 2-0-0 NEC) head northeast to square off against Merrimack (1-6-2, 1-1-0 NEC) in the second of three consecutive away matches.
Game Info
FDU (5-3-2, 2-0-0 NEC) at Merrimack (1-6-2, 1-1-0 NEC)
Thursday, September 30 at 5:00 p.m. -- Martone-Mejail Field in North Andover, Massachusetts
Coverage: NEC Front Row | Live Stats
In-Game Updates: @FDUKnightsWSOC
All-Time Series
Series tied 1-1-0
Streak...L1
First Meeting...9/29/19 (FDU 2, Merrimack 1)
Last Meeting...3/19/21 (Merrimack 2, FDU 1, 2OT)
Scouting the Warriors
Merrimack played the role of spoiler to the Knights last season, and will hope to do the same in the early stages of conference play. Merrimack have gone 1-6-2 this season, but over their last four matches they are 1-2-1, which includes their most recent match, a tough overtime loss to St. Francis Brooklyn on the road. In their conference opener, the Warriors started NEC play with a bang, toppling Howard 3-1. Sophomore defender, and member of the most recent All-NEC Second Team, Abigail Cieri has logged a goal in each of the side's last two matches. The Warriors have several other scoring threats, including Ella Cormier, who has logged two goals and three assists, Molly Murnane, who has chipped in three goals and one assist, and Hallie Shiers, who has notched three goals.
Scouting the Knights
FDU enter this match with a 5-3-2 record, riding the high of back-to-back conference victories to take a key six points out of their first two NEC matches this season. The most recent of which was a 1-0 victory over LIU in the first away day of the conference season, the difference-making goal coming from Naemi Hausen on a well-taken penalty kick. Hausen is now just one of four players in the NEC with multiple game-winning goals this season. The Knights other NEC match was a 3-0 victory over Saint Francis U, in which three different players, Isabelle Udovc, Gina Steiner, and Aitana Martínez-Montoya, found the back of the net. The defense continues to be anchored by Malene Nielsen, who has registered as many clean sheets as she has NEC weekly honors – a whopping six of each. Her current GAA of 1.21 is lowest mark of the season, and she has conceded just five times in the last eight matches.
Coach Teepe's Thoughts
"This game vs. Merrimack is a very important match as we move into the middle of our conference schedule. We know they are a hardworking and relentless team, as we found out in the spring. We have prepared for such a match and hopefully we can go up to Massachusetts and get the result we need."
What's Next
The Knights head next to Sacred Heart to take on the side picked third in the NEC Preseason Poll. The match will take place on Thursday, September 7, at 3 p.m. at Park Ave Field in Fairfield, Connecticut.
