Fairfield, CT- The FDU Women's soccer team (9-10-2)(5-2-2) played Sacred Heart University (10-5-5)(5-1-3) today, November 6th at 1PM in the NEC Championship match. The Knights played an outstanding match and went on to win the game in a penalty shootout.  

 

How it Happened

1st Half 

• The Knights came out of the gates playing with confidence from the first whistle and created their first chance four minutes into the match. Graduate student Lea Egner took a shot that was deflected and comfortably saved by the keeper.  
• In the 19' graduate student Madelyn Robbins drove past her defender and played in a cross that fizzed across the face of the net, but no one could get a touch on it.  
• Egner again created a chance for herself in the 27' when she beat a defender and took a powerful shot from distance that ended up just over the crossbar.  
• The Knights kept the pressure on and Egner created another chance in the 34' when she took a shot from just outside the 18-yard box that Keeper Elyssa Kipperman saved.  
• The Burgundy and Blue tallied nine shots compared to Sacred Heart's four in the first half.  

2nd Half  

• In the 48' #3 SHU opened the scoring through Grace O'Hara who headed the ball past Malene Nielsen on a through ball to secure the lead for the Pioneers.  
• Seven Minutes later in the 55' the Knights answered with a goal of their own from a corner kick. Egner played a perfect ball that Sophomore Kiomy Luperon got her head to and finished emphatically for her second goal of the season which leveled the score at 1-1.
• Sophomore Aitana Martínez-Montoya then drew a penalty in the 57'. Egner played in a perfect through ball over the top of the Pioneers defense that goalkeeper Kipperman came charging out to. Martínez-Montoya was able to get a touch on the ball first and Kipperman took her out. She then converted from the spot for her 13th goal of the season which gave the Knights a 2-1 lead.  
• In the 68' Robbins played a great ball from the right wing to the back post that Helena Leher almost got her head to, but was just out of reach.  
• With two minutes left in the match #3 SHU tied the game on a breakaway goal. Morgan Bovardi was able to get through the defense and finish in the top left corner to level the match to force extra time.  

OT 1  

• The first overtime was played tentatively with neither side being able to record a shot in the 10 minutes of play.  

OT 2 

• In the 102' Robbins was able to get a shot off from the right side of the box but could not get the ball past Kipperman who saved the chance.  
• With five minutes remaining Luperon nutmegged her defender on the right side and put in a beautiful cross that found Martínez-Montoya but her effort ended up on the outside of the side net. 
• Extra time ended in a draw leaving the game up to penalty kicks.  

Penalty Kicks 

• #3 SHU stepped up to the spot to take to the first penalty which Nichol Green converted in the bottom left corner.  
• Egner then stepped up and converted her kick in the bottom right corner.  
• Both sides converted their next three penalties which left the game up to each team's fifth penalty-taker.  
• Francesca Peloro stepped up for the Pioneers and took a great penalty that Malene Nielsen made an incredible save, leaving the game in the hands of Robbins.  
• Robbins stepped up with ice in her veins and shot the ball hard to the left side which ended up hitting the post and going in securing the win for the Knights.  

All-Tournament Team Honorees

Lea Egner (Tournament MVP)
Paula Ruess 
Aitana Martínez-Montoya 
Madelyn Robbins 
 

Quotable

"Our team has done such a great job all year with their mentality and being together, a loss like we had at the end of the season sometimes can just put the season away but instead we responded with three of our best games in a row. Each of the five players who stepped up for the penalty kicks did amazing and Malene came up with an unbelievable save." Stated head coach Eric Teepe. "The fan support was absolutely fantastic today, seeing all the supporters out there shows how special of a place FDU is. From an athletic point of view, there is so much support from the athletes toward each other and that was a big reason why we were able to win today."

"It seems like I don't even have the words to describe these emotions but it's the sweetest feeling I have ever felt" Stated Madelyn Robbins. "Honestly my keeper Mal gave me all the confidence in the world with that save, when I was walking up to the spot I just knew I had it and I knew that trophy was ours. I am extremely proud of this group of players and I'm just so happy for all of us."

 

Up Next

     
The Knights will look forward to tomorrow night for the NCAA Tournament selection show to see who they face. The team is excited to see who they play and will be ready for any opponent.  

Connect with FDU women's soccer on Twitter and Instagram, @FDUKnightsWSOC.