TEANECK, N.J. - No Dolphins were found in the Hackensack River after Thursday night''s Northeast Conference men's soccer tilt between FDU (5-2-3, 2-0-1 NEC) and Le Moyne (1-5-4, 1-1-1 NEC). The match marked the first-ever meeting between the Knights and the Dolphins, the newest member of the nine-team NEC having joined the league on July 1. FDU came out on top by a 2-0 final tally on a cool fall evening on the banks of the Hackensack.
The side from DeWitt, N.Y. controlled the possession with most of the chances in the first half of play, having had the ball for 60 percent of play in the first 45 minutes. Out-shooting the home Burgundy and Blue 6-4 in the opening period, three Dolphin shots found the target and eventually, into the hands of graduate student goalkeeper
Spencer King who finished his 46th FDU appearance with seven saves.
King leads the NEC in saves, registering 51 saves in 10 matches for an .810 save percentage. His five shutouts on the year is also the league benchmark.
Senior forward
Jayd Hamdaoua would record FDU's first chance of the evening at the quarter-hour mark with a high shot over the cross bar. The Paris, France product would record two of the Knights' first three shots of the game.
Sophomore
Matt Giraldo didn't waste much time nine minutes into play in the second half when the Elizabeth, N.J. native connected with the pass from senior
Tony Gomez to boot the eventual game-winning goal, his first career game-winner and first score of the 2023 season.
With a one-goal lead in hand,
Seth Roland's squad would create the bulk of the chances down the stretch, out-shooting Le Moyne by an 8-6 tally in the final 45 minutes of play. One of those eight shots would come with just over five minutes to play when newcomer
Alec Mowry served to Hamdaoua who beautifully chipped the ball over the Le Moyne goalkeeper's head with a right-foot goal to make it 2-0 FDU. Hamdaoua has now scored a team-leading five goals this season, all five coming in the last three matches. Hamdaoua is the second-leading scorer in the conference behind Stonehill's Colin Milliken (six goals).
"I thought our mentality was very focused and professional this evening against a team that was well organized, disciplined and difficult to break down," said Roland. "We wanted to increase the tempo second half and I think we were able to do that successfully. And it's good to get a clean sheet—it's been a few games."
Remaining unbeaten at home in 2023, FDU moves to 4-0-0 at the friendly confines of University Stadium and with the win, continues their unbeaten streak against NEC opponents to a remarkable 13-consecutive games.
Conference play for the Knights resumes on Sunday, October 8 at 3 p.m. when FDU welcomes Sacred Heart for Hispanic Heritage Day live on NEC Front Row from University Stadium.
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