September 29, 2011

Women's Soccer Takes On Fairleigh Dickinson On Friday, Sept. 30 At 7 PM

Friday, Sept. 30, 2011 – 7 p.m.
Quinnipiac University at Fairleigh Dickinson University
University Stadium – Teaneck, N.J.

Friday Night Lights
The Quinnipiac women’s soccer team travels to play Fairleigh Dickinson in a Northeast Conference match-up on Friday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. at University Stadium in Teaneck, N.J. The Bobcats enter the game at 1-5-1 overall and 0-1-0 in NEC play after falling to Sacred Heart, 2-1, in their most recent outing. The Knights stand at 3-4-1 on the year and 0-1-0 in league action after losing to Long Island, 4-1, on Sept. 24.

Multimedia
Live stats will be available and can be accessed by visiting the Official Website of Quinnipiac Athletics, www.QuinnipiacBobcats.com.

Scouting Fairleigh Dickinson
The Knights enter the contest with an overall record of 3-4-1. In its most recent outing, Fairleigh Dickinson dropped its first NEC game of the season at Long Island, 4-1. FDU midfielder Elizabeth Langer scored the team’s only goal on an assist from forward Rashidah Sherman. Overall, the Knights are led by Sherman who posts a team-high four points on the year. Lindzy Williams has picked up three points, while three FDU players have each scored a goal this season. Goalkeeper Sage Dovale has gone 3-3-1 in net for the Knights, making 34 saves and allowing 11 goals in 2011. Dovale has picked up three shutouts this season.

All-Time Against The Knights
Friday’s match-up marks the 12^th all-time meeting between Quinnipiac and Fairleigh Dickinson. The Bobcats lead the all-time series, 7-3-1. At home, the Bobcats post a 5-1 record with the Knights, but are 2-2-1 on the road with the NEC opponent. Last season, Quinnipiac shut out FDU, 6-0, at the Quinnipiac Soccer Field.

Last Time Out
In their most recent outing, the Bobcats lost their first NEC contest of the year to Sacred Heart, 2-1, at the Pioneers’ home turf on Sept. 23. Quinnipiac’s Beck Kiting scored her second goal of the year on an assist from fellow defender Chelsea Smith in the loss. The Bobcats’ goalie Jill Kelley matched the Pioneers’ keeper Sydney Judkins, both making two saves in the match.

Hard Work At Holy Cross
Prior to the loss at Sacred Heart, the Bobcats won their first game of the 2011 season against Holy Cross, 1-0, on Sunday, Sept. 18. Quinnipiac defender Beck Kiting scored the game-winning goal in the 79^th minute of play for the victory. Bobcats keeper Jill Kelley picked up her first win and shutout of the year, as well.

Lessons From Lehigh
Prior to defeating Holy Cross, Quinnipiac dropped a non-conference game to Lehigh, 4-2, on Sept. 16. Junior Shauna Edwards scored her first goal of the year on assists from classmate Kemesha Woodfine and senior Furtuna Velaj. Velaj also scored in the match-up to increase her season-total to seven points.

Dangerous Defense
Bobcats sophomore defender Beck Kiting currently ranks second on the team with four points and two goals. Kiting has scored a total of four goals in her career with the Bobcats. In her freshman season with Quinnipiac, Kiting also scored two goals.

Leading Lady
Quinnipiac senior Furtuna Velaj leads the Bobcats with seven points, three goals and one assist. Velaj has led the Bobcats in the past three seasons in points and goals.

Shooting Star
Quinnipiac forward and midfielder Furtuna Velaj ranks seventh amongst NEC players in shots with 25 shots on the year and second in shots per game (3.57). With seven points and three goals, Velaj is tied at ninth in the conference.

Saving Grace
Quinnipiac senior keeper Jill Kelly is tied for the eighth slot in NEC saves category with 32 saves on the year. She’s also in the seventh slot for saves per game (4.57).

ESPN.com Features Furtuna
Earlier this season, Furtuna Velaj was recognized in an article written by ESPN.com’s Graham Hays. The article features the Santa Clara University starting goalkeeper and 10 NCAA Division I women’s soccer players, whom hays feels will have a great potential to make an impact this season. Last year, Hays also wrote a feature, “From refugee to soccer star,” on Velaj’s journey from her native Kosovo to the United States, as well as her future aspirations in political science following her collegiate career. She was also named a top potential draft pick and one of the top collegiate women forwards in the country by www.AllWhiteKit.com.

NEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll
The Quinnipiac University women’s soccer team was picked to finish fifth out of 11 teams, in the 2011 Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Bobcats finished last season 7-7-4 overall and at 5-2-3 in conference play, which secured a spot for the Quinnipiac in the 2010 NEC Tournament.

Northeast Conference 2011 Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1.    Saint Francis (PA) (8)
2.    Monmouth (2)
3.    Long Island
4.    Central Connecticut St. (1)
5.    Quinnipiac
6.    Sacred Heart
7.    Bryant
8.    Robert Morris
9.    Wagner
10.   Mount Saint Mary’s
11.   Fairleigh Dickinson
First place votes in parentheses ( ).

What’s Ahead for the Bobcats
After playing at Fairleigh Dickinson, Quinnipiac kicks off October with four-straight contests at the Quinnipiac Soccer Field, including games against Robert Morris on Oct. 8, Saint Francis (Pa.) on Oct. 9, Long Island on Oct. 14, and Wagner on Oct. 16. The team will then make trips to Monmouth on Oct. 21, Mount St. Mary’s on Oct. 23 and Central Connecticut State on Oct. 28, before hosing Bryant on Oct. 30 for the final game of the regular season.

Contact: Lindsay Oliveri, lmoliveri@quinnipiac.edu