TEANECK, N.J. -- Two goals over a three minute stretch midway through the second half was the difference Friday night in the Fairleigh Dickinson men's soccer team's 2-1 victory over St. Francis Brooklyn in a highly-contested Northeast Conference battle at University Stadium. With the victory, the Knights pick up three points in the standings, move into a three-way tie for fourth place and improve to 9-6-1 (2-2-1 NEC) on the season, while the Terriers fall to 9-5-1 (3-3-0 NEC) overall.

In a very physical contest that saw 28 fouls called and four yellow cards issued, FDU struck first in the 64th minute. After a St. Francis defender knocked the ball past midfield, junior Nico Wright was able to corral it and went streaking down the left side. He then stopped from about 30 yards out and blasted a shot to the right side of the back of the net to give the Knights a 1-0 lead. The goal was Wright's third of the season.

Less than three minutes later in the 67th minute, junior Anders Vest-Hansen delivered a pass to fellow classmate Martin Lukaschik, who found senior Kean Lewis in the middle of the box. Lewis then turned to his left and beat Terriers' goalkeeper Jack Binks to the lower-left side to give FDU a 2-0 advantage. It was the senior's first career goal.

Ten minutes later, St. Francis cut the deficit to 2-1 when Harry O'Dell beat senior goalkeeper Jacob Lissek from close range on the left side.
Over the final 13 minutes of the contest, the Knights' defense buckled down and was able to preserve the 2-1 victory.

FDU held a 10-8 advantage in shots, including a 5-2 edge over the first 45 minutes. Lissek did not have to make a save, while Binks made three for the Terriers.

"It was a good win for us tonight," Head Coach Seth Roland said. The guys competed really hard, it was a tough game and St. Francis Brooklyn is an outstanding team. But we played very well, and I am proud of the guys. We have a huge game Sunday up at Bryant that we will turn our focus to tomorrow."

The Knights will head to Smithfield, R.I. to take on Bryant, who is currently tied in the standing with FDU. Sunday's kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

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