Box Score VILLANOVA, Pa. - FDU Men's Soccer (4-0-1) used a late goal from co-captain Ryan Kopay as he buried his first goal of the season to get FDU past Villanova (3-1-1) in a Labor Day afternoon match at Higgins Soccer Complex. This victory is the fourth straight for FDU, as the Knights have yet to be defeated in their first five matches of the season. 

While the first half was scoreless, it was not without it's share of shots from the Knights side. FDU fired 10 shots toward the Villanova cage in the opening half, only for a couple shots to be on target, both of which being saved by Wildcat goalkeeper Alex Yagudayev.

FDU created several chances in the first half outside of the two shots on net, controlling a majority of the possession, providing crisp passes and well rounded defense when it was Villanova's turn with the ball. The teams entered halftime with the Knights outshooting the Wildcats 10-3, but the score was still 0-0 after 45 minutes. 

In the second half FDU continued to apply the pressure, where until the 71st minute, the Wildcats stood firm, holding the Knights scoreless. In that 71st minute, Ryan Kopay fired a shot that was saved, but created a massive rebound chance where Kopay followed his own ball and punched the ball into the back of the net for his first marker of the season. 

The Knights still controlled much of the possession as well as the shots in the second half, outshooting the Wildcats 12-10 in the second half, making it 22-13 for the match. Matheus Franca made three saves in the match and grabbed his second clean sheet of the season, this one resulting in a win. 

Matt Giraldo let the Knights in shots taken Monday afternoon with a total of five. Behind him was the goalscorer Ryan Kopay, with Jeremie Pelade and Joshua Bartels both adding three shots in the match. 
 

WHAT'S NEXT

FDU will look to continue their momentum into their next match on Saturday where the Knights will head to Newark to take on the NJIT Highlanders out of the America East conference. Kick off is set for 5 p.m.