FAIRFIELD, CONN.- In a much-anticipated rematch of last year's NEC championship match the Knights (1-9) (1-1) faced Sacred Heart (2-5-3) (1-1). Thanks to a free-kick goal by freshman
Ana Salas and stellar defensive play throughout the match the Knights secured all three points on the road.
1st Half
From the opening whistle, Sacred Heart displayed their intensity by firing off three shots within the initial 10 minutes. However, as the match progressed, the Knights found their rhythm exhibiting composure and seizing control of the proceedings. This stability allowed FDU to assert thier dominance and secure the lion's share of possession.
A pivotal moment arrived in the 11' when sophomore standout
Andrea Ougaard pulled off a breathtaking goal-saving tackle, inspiring the FDU squad with confidence.
The Knights' first shot on target came in the 17' courtesy of
Lina Dirnberger's long-distance strike. This was quickly followed by
Kiomy Luperon's effort, which forced a crucial save from Sacred Heart's goalkeeper.
The Knights best chance of the half came in the 39' when
Laura Martinez orchestrated a great play, delivering the ball out wide to
Nina Carlomusto. Carlomusto played a low-driven cross from the left flank that narrowly missed the foot of Lehr.
At the halfway mark the Knights held an advantage in shots recording four on target compared to Sacred Heart's two.
2nd Half
The pivotal breakthrough came in the 49' when the Knights pierced Sacred Heart's defense. Freshman
Ana Salas embarked on a skillful run from midfield, only to be fouled right outside the box. Salas unfazed by the challenge, assumed responsibility for the free-kick and elegantly slotted it into the bottom left corner giving the Knights a well-deserved 1-0 lead.
As the second half unfolded, the Knights relentlessly pressed for an insurance goal while playing stellar defense.
Andrea Ougaard and
Mona Schlegl formed an impressive center-back partnership, showcasing their chemistry that foiled every SHU offensive attack. The great defensive play from the entire team enabled the Knights to preserve their first clean sheet of the season.
Overall, the Knights' victory was a testament to their collective brilliance, with each player making contributions to secure their inaugural win of the season. The team's spirit and commitment was clear as they fought until the final whistle to secure the victory.
"We knew SHU would have a lot of passion and emotion coming into this game but once we settled into the match and started playing our style, we began to exploit the spaces on the field. Once we started doing that, we knew that with the players we have on the field and their technical abilities that we would find the breakthrough." Coach Teepe continued, "I felt like we managed the game very well, it would have been nice to find that insurance goal but the good thing for us is that we didn't give them many good opportunities to score tonight. We did a great job of dealing with their attack and with a team like SHU who is so dangerous and so fast up top that shows just how impressive of a performance that was from the squad."
In the upcoming fixture, the Knights will make their return to their home turf hosting CCSU (4-4-1)(2-0) scheduled for Sunday, September 24th, at 2 PM. FDU will aim to capitalize on this momentum and start a potential winning streak as NEC play begins to intensify.
Connect with FDU women's soccer on Twitter and Instagram, @FDUKnightsWSOC.
