Wednesday, October 17, 2001

FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON DROPS 4-1 TO QUINNIPIAC
Knights’ Goalkeeper Megan McDonnell Makes Ten Saves

TEANECK, NJ – The Fairleigh Dickinson University women’s soccer team (3-8, 2-6 NEC) dropped a 4-1 decision to the Quinnipiac Braves (7-4, 5-1 NEC) at University Stadium.  

The Knights kept within a one-goal margin for most of the game, but Quinnipiac got two late second half goals to go up by three and take the eventual win.

The teams were slow to strike and traded possessions until Quinnipiac’s Chandra Manuelpillai (Walpole, Mass./Walpole) scored off an assist from Elisa Goncalves (South Winsor, Conn./South Windsor) at 24:31.  The Knights knotted the game at one when Stephanie Williams (Randolph, Mass./Braintree) served a long clean pass into the box to Aubrey McCullough (Forked River, NJ/Monsignor Donovan) who found the back of the net with a 15-yard shot—her fifth goal of the season—at 43:19.  The Braves quickly forced the Knights back to their side of the field where Kelli Buccini (Waterbury, Conn./Watertown) scored for Quinnipiac just 36 seconds later at 43:55.

The teams held strong on both offense and defense and the game stayed at a 2-1 deficit for the Knights until the 79^th minute when Goncalves registered her second assist of the afternoon with a pass to Jamie Ahearn (North Brookfield, Mass./Holy Name) who scored her first career goal.  Three and a half minutes later it was Goncalves who sealed the victory with the Braves’ fourth and final goal on the afternoon.

The Knights were outshot 21-5 on the afternoon and were given three corner kick opportunities to the Braves’ 12.   Fairleigh Dickinson goalkeeper Megan McDonnell (Richmond Hill, NY/Cardozo) was tested by the Quinnipiac offense, but made ten saves in the match and intercepted several key crosses.  Braves’ goalkeeper Jenna Lawless (West Springfield, Mass./West Springfield) had to make just two saves to get the win.

 “We had our ups and downs today,” said Fairleigh Dickinson head coach Peter Gaglioti.  “At times we played well and other times we struggled.”

The Knights host NEC school Wagner on Sunday, October 21^st for a 12pm match.

Scoring by Period               1                2                F

Fairleigh Dickinson                1                0                1
Quinnipiac                            2                2                4

Scoring Summary:         

QU       Chandra Manuelpillai (Elisa Goncalves), 24 :31
FDU     Aubrey McCullough (Stephanie Williams), 43 :19
QU      Kelli Buccini (unassisted), 43:55
QU      Jamie Ahearn (Goncalves), 79:32
QU       Goncalves (Buccini), 83:00

Shots: FDU 5, QU 21; Corners: FDU 3, QU 12; Saves: FDU 10, QU 2; Fouls : FDU 6, QU 10 ; Attendance : 50

 

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