TEANECK, N.J.- The FDU Knights (5-10)(5-2) faced the Howard Bison (9-4-2)(4-2-1) in an NEC matchup. The match came down to the final moments as the Knights stepped up and made big plays to secure the comeback victory.
1st Half
The Knights asserted their dominance during the initial 45' maintaining the lion's share of possession and creating several promising opportunities to seize the lead.
The action kicked off in the 4' when Anna Cacciuttolo delivered a precise cross to Ana Salas positioned expertly at the back post. Despite Salas's well-timed effort with her favored left foot, the ball narrowly missed the mark denying the Knights their opening goal.
Salas found herself in a prime position once more in the 9', this time at the back post again. Despite a good effort she couldn't capitalize on the opportunity, leaving the Knights undeterred as they pushed forward in search of that elusive opening goal.
FDU showcased their attacking prowess, registering a total of seven shots before the Bison managed their first attempt in the 27'. The Knights tallyed an impressive thirteen shots, while Howard struggled to keep up managing only three attempts in the entire half.
2nd Half
The second half unfolded as with both teams seizing opportunities to score and shifting the momentum back and forth.
Early in the half, the Bison capitalized on a swift counter-attack in the 49'. Alauna Rutland orchestrated a through ball that was slightly deflected but still found its way to Melea Early's foot. Early maneuvered past a defender and expertly placed the ball into the bottom left corner of the net securing the opening goal.
Undeterred by the setback, the Knights collectively regrouped and intensified their efforts to level the score. Their perseverance paid off in the 76' when Laura Martinez's determined play resulted in a well-placed cross that was met skillfully by the head of Andrea Ougaard. Ougaard calmly guided the ball past the keeper, marking her first goal of the season and bringing the Knights back into the game.
Boosted by their equalizer, FDU continued to press for the winner and their tenacity paid off in the 83'. Lina Dirnberger found herself positioned at the top of the box seizing an opportune moment to unleash a powerful shot with her right foot. The ball sailed past defenders and the goalkeeper nestling into the back of the net and propelling the Knights into the lead.
In the dying minutes, the Bison mounted a desperate search for an equalizer. Their chance came with a corner in the final four minutes. Zaria Stevenson's potent header seemed destined for the goal, but Marie Jakobsen showcased her skills with an outstanding one-handed save pushing the ball out for another corner.
Despite Howard's efforts, they could not find the elusive equalizer resulting in a thrilling and highly entertaining victory for the Knights.
"Today what I liked about the match was that despite conceding the first goal, we kept battling and showed real teamwork. We were unlucky not to get a goal in the first half, but it was great to see us keep our composure and keep playing our game." Coach Teepe stated, "Lina went four years without scoring a goal and now to score in back-to-back games is amazing for her and the team. To hit that shot at that time was great, she calmly stepped up and took the perfect shot to help us win that match.
The Knights aim to maintain their winning momentum as they travel to Staten Island to take on Wagner on 10/19 at 7 PM.
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