Men's Soccer Wins at Fairleigh Dickinson, 2-1

The Central Connecticut men's soccer team scored twice in the opening period and then held off Fairleigh Dickinson for a 2-1 win in Northeast Conference action on Saturday night in Teaneck, NJ. The Blue Devils took advantage of building its early lead to defeat the Knights and improve to 3-6-2 on the season and 1-1 in NEC play. The Knights fell to 2-9-1 overall and 0-1 in NEC play.

Sophomore Filosmar Cordeiro and the Blue Devils wasted no time getting on the board. Central earned a corner kick in the 2nd minute and Cordeiro's kick deflected off the hands of the keeper and into the net for a quick 1-0 lead. 

Junior Nick Velleca made three saves in the opening half to keep the Knights scoreless until CCSU was able to pad its lead in the 37th minute. Sophomore Ryan Taylor scored the eventual game-winner after he made a run into the FDU area and took a quick pass from freshman Louis Beddouri before sending his shot to the far post for a 2-0 lead.

Fairleigh Dickinson got onto the board in the 50th minute when Simon Hernandez got his head onto the end of a cross from Jordon Ellison and put it into the back of the net to make it 2-1. 

The Knights continued to pressure the Blue Devils looking to level the score, but the CCSU defense managed to hold firm and Velleca turned away a shot in the 84th minute to protect the advantage.

Velleca finished with five saves on the night as FDU outshot CCSU, 9-4, in the second half and finished with a 15-11 margin on the night. 

The Blue Devils return to action on Friday, Oct. 23, with a contest at Sacred Heart at 3:00 p.m.