Box Score WEST HAVEN, CONN.- FDU Men's Soccer (10-3-3, 4-1-2 NEC) clinched a spot in the NEC Men's Soccer Tournament for the ninth straight season as the Knights bested New Haven 1-0 with a 58th minute goal from Joshua Bartels. 

In the first half of the match, the two teams were getting used to each other under the Knights on a chilly night at Kathy Zolad Stadium. Both teams created chances with several missing high over the crossbar, with the Knights not testing the Charger goalkeeper in the opening half, as their keeper Matheus Franca had to make two saves to keep the game square at zero. 

 In the second half, FDU would turn up the game pressure on the Chargers, as the Knights controlled the ball, earning key free kicks, and dominating the time of possession in the early going of the half.

The Knights pressure finally broke through, when Joshua Bartels was on the receiving end of a beautiful cross from Matt Giraldo, as Bartels was able to find it with his left foot and power it into the back of the net giving the Knights a 1-0 lead in the 59th minute of the match. 

The Knights would continue to put more pressure on the Chargers, but New Haven would stay up to the task, providing some counters that the Knights had to be ready for, but FDU held strong in the second half, generating 13 shots and six corner kicks, as the defending NEC Champions flexed their muscles over New Haven. 

FDU would ice the game, possessing the ball at the end of the game, and letting the last bits of time run off the clock for their second straight win, as the Chargers were defeated at home for the first time in their division one competition era.

The Knights clinched a spot in the NEC tournament for the eighth time in nine years, and the defending champions of the NEC will be back to defend their crown, as one of the conference's top four teams in the regular season. 
 

WHAT'S NEXT

FDU will complete the regular season by hosting Howard on senior day, for one last regular season game before the NEC tournament. Kick off from Macron Stadium next Sunday is set for 12 p.m. with senior day festivities starting at 11:50. The match will be streamed on NEC Front Row.