TEANECK, N.J. – FDU men's soccer (11-4-3, 7-1-1) finished their 2025 regular season with a 1-0 win over Howard (5-11-2, 3-5-1) on Sunday evening. With the win, the Knights have clinched the 2025 NEC Regular Season Title.
Heading into the match, the Knights stood atop the NEC table with 19 points. Trailing just behind them with 18 points was Saint Francis; the Red Flash could steal the regular season title with a win in their season finale against CCSU, and a loss or draw by FDU against Howard.
To add to the heightened stakes of the match, FDU also celebrated Senior Day in Teaneck, N.J. The Knights honored 11 seniors in a pre-game ceremony, setting the stage for a highly emotional finale to the 2025 regular season.
Kick-off at a rain-soaked University Stadium came around at 3 p.m, and both sides immediately found themselves caught in a defensive battle. The Knights and Bison were each held scoreless across the first 45. Each squad's goalie made two saves, as the Knights out-shot Howard six to two in the first half.
As things remained even into the half in Teaneck, things went final out in Loretto, Pa. Saint Francis was able to pull out a 2-0 victory over CCSU, jumping the Knights in the NEC table for the time being, and putting all of the pressure onto FDU. If the Knights wanted to take home the regular season trophy, a win was needed in the final 45 against Howard.
Out of halftime, the Knights turned the pressure up. FDU had a pair of chances early in the half, but were unable to capitalize. Despite that, they kept Howard on their heels, and controlled possession.
In the 57th minute, the floodgates finally opened for the Knights. Corey Hudgins sent a high-arcing pass to the left side of the box, and the ball seemed headed out of play. Before it touched down, Jaime Barbero leapt into the air across the end line and to the left of the goal. Barbero was able to get a head on the ball to keep it in play, sending a pass back in front of the goal.
Arnau Rabassa Guillamon was ready and waiting. The senior tapped home the pass, squeaking a goal past Howard's goalkeeper and putting the Knights on the board. Rabassa Guillamon's score was good for his tenth of the season, which finished as the most by any player in the NEC.
Matheus Franca put the Bison on ice for the remainder of the game, picking up a clean sheet with two saves en route to the victory.
"Incredible group," said head coach Jaymee Highcock of his squad. "They deserved to win tonight. They've been working at it all season."
The win clinches the NEC Regular Season Title for FDU for the first time since 2022. That was also the last time the Knights have won the NEC Tournament. FDU will be slotted as the #1 seed in the 2025 Tournament. It is the second year in a row they have been the #1 seed in the tournament.
The Knights will head into the 2025 NEC Tournament as the top seed. They begin by playing host to #4 Le Moyne in the NEC Semifinals on Thursday, November 13. Kick-off time is TBD.
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Presto's Pizza is the presenting sponsor of the 2025 FDU men's soccer season
