BROOKVILLE, N.Y. - FDU men's soccer (6-5-2, 4-0-1 NEC) remained unbeaten in Northeast Conference play Sunday, taking three crucial points in the league table from LIU in a 1-0 win for the Knights who now own the top slot in the nine-team NEC.
 

How It Happened

First Half

• LIU got the ball rolling with the first two shot attempts of the game in the early going with FDU's senior goalkeeper Spencer King making his 38th save of the season in the 3'.
• On the Knights' second corner kick immediately after their first, sophomore Kevin Leonhard dished out the service and connected with Fallou Tounkara, the Burgundy and Blue's graduate student midfielder who placed the ball in the far corner of the net with his right foot. The Knights' captain's score was his second of the campaign with both scores coming in NEC play.
• Following a pair of attempts in the attacking third from midfielder (senior) Jordan Alonge and forward Joshua Ferreira, the home Sharks' leading scorer Emil Jaaskelainen booted a rocket, but fortunately for FDU the ball landed wide right of the goal.

Second Half

• Kicking off the second half, LIU enjoyed their advantage with the ball, tailing two shots in in the first four minutes of the second half. Both LIU shots would fall wide.
• Leonhard and newcomer Jayd Hamdaoua would try their luck for the first two of FDU's three shots in the final period but only Leonhard's would fall on-target.
• Maintaining defensive shape to protect the valuable 1-0 lead, FDU held the Sharks to just one shot-on-target in the period

 

Inside the Box Score

FDU is unbeaten against the Sharks in each of the last four meetings, winning the previous three.
 

Quotable

"It was a tough battle against a good team," said head coach Seth Roland. "Our mentality was strong and we competed hard. We didn't necessarily win any style points today, but most importantly, we accepted the challenge head-on and came out with an important win."

"It feels good to score the game-winner and it was a well deserved win," commented Tounkara. "Great effort and focus from the guys. It's not about being the top of the league, it's about staying there. Lots of work lies ahead for us and we're ready for the challenges to come."
 

The Road Ahead

FDU hosts Central Connecticut at University Stadium on Thursday, October 20 at 7 p.m. live on NEC Front Row.

Connect with FDU men's soccer on Twitter and Instagram, @FDUKnightsMSOC.