NORTH ANDOVER, MASS.- The Knights (0-9)(0-1) opened NEC play today on the road against Merrimack (2-3-2)(1-0). FDU started the game on the front foot and took a one goal lead into the halftime break but could not hold on for the victory.
1st Half
Early in the game the Knights first chance came in the 9' when freshman Ana Salas received the ball in the box. Salas fired a powerful shot with her left foot towards the near post which the Merrimack keeper saved.
FDU took the lead in the 25' through graduate student Naemi Hausen. Laura Martinez and Kiomy Luperon linked up with great buildup play and found Salas in space. Salas then played a threaded through ball that found Luperon on the edge of the box which forced the goalie to come off her line. The Merrimack keeper made a great play on the ball, but it fell right to Hausen who slotted it into the open net for the Knights opening goal.
FDU played very positive soccer in the half and took a goal lead into the break.
2nd Half
Merrimack leveled the match five minutes into the second half in the 50' through Ella Cormier.
The Knights regained the lead in the 62'. Andrea Ougaard stepped up from the center back position to gain possession and went on a run with the ball. Ougaard turned her defender and put in a beautiful cross the fell right to the foot of Hausen. Hausen clinically finished the chance with a volleyed shot to record a brace and add to her team leading third goal of the season.
Merrimack added two more goals to their tally and took the lead all within a four-minute span.
Once FDU were trailing, they had no answers for the Merrimack defense and ended up losing the match.
"It's a very disappointing result, we were in control of the match doing what we needed to do but could've put away a few more of our chances." Stated Coach Teepe, "In the second half we just let it slip away because we simply got outworked. As we started to play more side-to-side passes instead of playing through the lines quickly, we allowed them to win possession more often and play their counter attacking style of play rather than making them playing our style"
The Knights continue NEC play against Sacred Heart (2-4-3)(1-0) on Thursday, (9/21) in Fairfield, Conn. This will be a rematch of the NEC final from last year as the Knights search for their first win of the season.
