TEANECK, N.J. - FDU men's soccer (4-5-1, 2-0-0 NEC) welcomed back members of the program's storied 2001 side which advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight Sunday, celebrating over 20 years since the team's remarkable season. Ending the weekend of festivities with the Knights' match against Merrimack (4-5-1, 1-1-1 NEC), the team and their guests, along with the Burgundy and Blue faithful, were treated to a stellar 2-0 victory as the Knights defeated the Warriors to move to 2-0 in Northeast Conference play.
 

How It Happened

First Half

• After a pair of fouls from both teams slowed gameplay down early on, FDU logged the first two shots of the contest with junior defender Eugenio García and graduate student midfielder Fallou Tounkara scratching their names on the scoresheet in the first 15 minutes of play.
• FDU's first attempt on-target would come in the 27' when sophomore forward Kevin Leonhard came off the bench and launched a shot down the center, though it was saved by the Warriors' keeper. Leonhard would make a great impact on the match as time progressed.
• Looking to change momentum, Warriors head coach Tony Martone turned to his bench for a series of subs, though Merrimack would be held without a shot for the final 11 minutes of the opening period.
• With both sides locked in a scoreless tally with under 20 seconds remaining in the first, Merrimack earned their second corner kick of the game, however time expired before the side shored-up their attack.

Second Half

• FDU leader Seth Roland stuck with the 11 he had on the pitch at the conclusion of the first half while Merrimack made a trio of substitutions coming out of the break. At halftime of the match, the 2001 team members and coaches were announced in a ceremony at midfield.
• 15 minutes into the second period of play, FDU defender Alberto Herranz headed-in his second goal in as many games to put FDU up 1-0 on the Warriors off a brilliant set piece from a corner kick served by Leonhard, who was credited with an assist.
• After a series of shots both wide and on-target, the Jefferson, N.J. product Leonhard would be involved in yet another Knights score when a foul was called in the Knights' attacking third and the side was awarded a free kick.
• Leonhard took the free kick opportunity and placed the ball just in front of the goal line where junior defender Hugo Bacharach flicked it to Tounkara who would score his first goal of the campaign and put the Knights up 2-0 in the 84'.

 

Quotable

"The guys put in a solid and mature effort against a good team," said Roland. "Our team shape was pretty good and we combined decent counter attacks with good stretches of possession. It put an exclamation point on a fantastic weekend honoring the greatest men's sports team in NEC history, the 2001 Elite Eight team. They and their families had a blast and I had so much fun reliving memories and sharing a lot of laughs."
 

The Road Ahead

FDU's homestand continues when the side welcomes Saint Francis U (Pa.) on Thursday, October 6 at 5 p.m. with the action from University Stadium airing live on NEC Front Row and the NEC On the Run app.

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