Hackensack, NJ -- The 2011-12 NCAA National Championship finalist Fairleigh Dickinson University women's bowling team finalized its 2012-13 schedule, announced by Head Coach Mike LoPresti on Monday, Oct. 1.
“Once again we have scheduled a marathon season that could make or break us,” says LoPresti of this year's slate. “Our philosophy has always been that we achieve our highest level of competition for our student-athletes through a highly competitive and grueling schedule. It has always worked, and with a roster full of highly talented, athletic, and intelligent players, this season should not be an exception.”
The Knights will begin competition at the 2012 Bethune-Cookman Wildcat Invitational at the end of October. The Deland, Fla. based tournament will be held Oct. 26-28. FDU opened the 2011 season with a 13-1 record and a tournament championship at the Wildcat Invitational and will be looking to start the 2012 season on the same note.
Nov. 2-4 will mark the Knights' first home event as they host the New Jersey Jamboree at Parkway Lanes in Elmwood Park, N.J. The Knights captured the tournament crown last season after going 9-4 on the weekend.
Northeast Conference action will begin the following weekend with a two-day meet hosted by Monmouth University in Bradley Beach, N.J.
To round out the first part of the season, FDU will travel to Millsboro, Del. Nov. 16-18 to take part in the UMES Hawk Classic, hosted by the 2012 NCAA National Champions. In 2011 the Knights took second place, falling to Vanderbilt in the tournament championship after going 9-1 on the weekend.
After the mid-season break, the team will participate in the Kutztown Golden Bear Invitational in Reading, Pa. The three-day tournament at the end of January typically draws the largest tournament field of the season. Last season the Knights finished only behind eventual National Champion UMES.
The following weekend Kutztown will host the second round of Northeast Conference play with a two-day match Feb. 2-3.
Feb. 8-10 will see the Knights play in the DSU Capital Classic in Dover, Del. It will be the sixth time the Knights have participated in this tournament. They have captured first place in each of their five previous appearances.
The Knights will conclude February competition at the ECAC Championship hosted by Adelphi in Garden City, N.Y. FDU did not participate in the ECAC tournament last season but won the title two seasons ago when they hosted the event at Parkway Lanes.
Northeast Conference regular season play will conclude with a March 2-3 meet in Brooklyn, N.Y., hosted by St. Francis NY.
The final regular season tournament of the 2012-13 season will once again be the Vanderbilt Music City Classic in Smyrna, Tenn.
The NEC Championship will be hosted by FDU March 23-24. The Knights will look to reclaim their conference championship title after falling to Sacred Heart last season.
Following the conclusion of NEC play, the NCAA National Championship Tournament field will be selected. Selection day is slated for March 27.
The eight teams competing in the 2013 NCAA National Championship will then travel to Canton, Mich. April 10-13 to vie for the National Championship title at Super Bowl Lanes. The Knights will be looking to knock two-time champion UMES off the top spot in the nation to claim their third NCAA National Championship.