ERIE, Pa. – FDU's (5-5-3, 5-0) winning streak reached five games on Sunday afternoon as the Knights defeated Mercyhurst (1-10-2, 1-3-1) 2-0. The Knights are now a perfect 5-0 in NEC play, marking their best start to a conference campaign since 2019. They have earned points in seven straight contests.

"We did do a good job of taking control of the game," said head coach Eric Teepe. "We made sure we would dictate what was going on. I felt we were a little flat in the second half, but on a hot day like this, we needed to gut it out and we did that."

The Burgundy and Blue's first goal came off a set piece in the 23^rd minute. Laura Martinez played a corner kick to an open Marina Burzaco, who then found Andrea Ougaard in front of the net. The senior Ougaard only needed one touch to put FDU up 1-0. It was her third goal of the season.

Burzaco has now recorded a goal contribution in each of FDU's last seven contests. She has tallied 17 points this season, which leads the team.

The next goal came courtesy of Martinez in the 31^st minute. The Mercyhurst keeper punched out a ball that bounced directly to the FDU midfielder. Martinez volleyed the ball out of the air into the back of the net. This sweet finish put FDU up 2-0. Martinez has scored three goals since NEC play began.

The Knights outshot Mercyhurst 10-4 in the first half.

FDU could not add a third goal in the second half. Nadia Wojcik drilled the crossbar in the 79^th minute, and Ougaard was immediately denied by the Lakers goalkeeper on the ensuing rebound. This was one of their better scoring opportunities of the game's second stanza.

Despite not scoring, FDU suffocated any chance of a Mercyhurst comeback. They held the Lakers to just one shot in the second half. When it was all said and done, they outshot their opponent 22-5. FDU has heled every conference opponent to under ten shots.

Sophomore defender Elisa Garcia continues to be a steadying presence for FDU. Today marked the tenth match of the year in which she played all 90 minutes. Her backline partner Daniela Peschetti also logged all 90 minutes, marking the eighth match in which she has done so. This duo helped guide the Knights to their second clean sheet of the year at Mercyhurst.
 

What's Next

The Knights are on the road again next Sunday, October 12, as they travel to the Midwest to take on Chicago State. It's the program's first visit to Chicago State. The match is scheduled to kickoff at 2 p.m. ET. Read Full Article