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Teaneck, NJ -- Fairleigh Dickinson’s year of dominance in Northeast Conference women’s soccer reached its pinnacle on Sunday afternoon as the Knights claimed the program’s first-ever NEC championship with a 1-0 win over Robert Morris at University Stadium in Teaneck, NJ.
The Knights will now head into their first NCAA Tournament appearance having won 12 straight matches. FDU went a perfect 8-0 in the NEC regular season and won all 10 of its matches at home this fall. FDU will learn its NCAA opponent during a live selection show on NCAA.com on Monday at 4:30 pm.
FDU fired 11 shots on goal to RMU’s three in a scoreless first half.
Robert Morris had a couple of opportunities to get on the board, most notably
Cassie Raymond (South Park, PA/South Park), who took a feed moving into the box and slid the ball past FDU keeper
Felicia Burr (Bellingham, MA/Blackstone-Millville), but it missed just wide of the far post.
NEC Golden Boot Award winner
Rachel Hoekstra (Bowmanville, Ontario/Clarington) of FDU had one of the best chances in the opening stanza, but RMU senior goalkeeper
Chelsea de Jager (Grimsby, Ontario/Governor Simcoe) was up to the challenge, leaping high to punch the ball away on a wide angle shot to the near post in the 30
th minute.
The game was scoreless at the half, but FDU came out strong in the second stanza, testing de Jager early.
After scoring seven times in it semifinal win over Saint Francis U, the Knights finally broke through in the 73
rd minute. NEC Rookie of the Year
Jessi Reinhardt (Friedberg, Germany/Burggymansium) sent in a perfect cross to Hoekstra, who connected on a header into the upper 90 to finally beat de Jager. It was the 16
th goal of the year for Hoekstra, most in the NEC.
Fairleigh Dickinson would retain possession of the ball for much of the remainder of the contest. Raymond had the closest chance at tying the game after a ball was played forward to her, but FDU defender
Kayla Adams (Ajax, Ontario/Pickering) came up with the big clear out of bounds to end the sequence.
FDU finished with a 22-6 advantage in shots, including 10-1 in shots on goal.
de Jager finished with nine saves, while Burr had one in posting her seventh shutout of the year.
Hoekstra, who scored three goals in two games, was named NEC Tournament MVP. She was joined on the All-Tournament team by teammates
Amanda Goulet (Quebec City, Quebec/Shattuck-St. Mary’s), Esther Rochon (Saint Romuald, Quebec/College Francois-Xavier-Garneau) and
Katey Arathoon (Pickering, Ontario/St. Mary’s).
Robert Morris placed three players on the All-Tournament team with de Jager, Raymond and
Kristie Hamilton (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler) all earning honors.
Senior midfielder
Hallie Rexer (Mountain Top, PA/Holy Redeemer) and freshman defender
Shannon McGinnis (Macungie, PA/Emmaus) were All-Tournament honorees for Saint Francis U, along with Bryant goalkeeper
Kaylan Conrad (Avon, CT/Avon) and senior defender
Allie DeBenedictis (Norwell, MA/Norwell).
2015 Northeast Conference
Women's Soccer Tournament
November 6 & 8, 2015
Hosted by Fairleigh Dickinson
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