Blue Devils Face Saint Francis in NEC Semifinal Friday

The Central Connecticut women's soccer team enters the 2017 Northeast Conference Tournament as the third seeded team, finishing NEC play with 18 points with a record of 6-2. CCSU was the first team to clinch a spot in the postseason with a key 1-0 win over Bryant on Oct. 22.

After starting NEC play 0-2, the Blue Devils erupted for a rolling six-game shutout win streak that currently ranks 10th in the nation. CCSU heads into Friday's semifinal, a 2016 NEC Championship rematch against the Saint Francis Red Flash, as one of two Division 1 soccer programs that have not allowed a single goal in the past six games.

NEC SEMIFINAL INFORMATION

#2 SFU (9-7-2, 6-1-1 NEC) vs. #3 CCSU (10-7, 6-2 NEC) | FRIDAY, NOV. 3 | 2:00 PM 

AT FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON | ROBERT T. SHIELDS FIELD | TEANECK, NJ

NEC CHAMPIONSHIP HQ | LIVE STATS | NEC FRONT ROW

The first-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson Knights will take on the fourth seeded Bulldogs of Bryant on Friday at 11:00 a.m. Both semifinal matches will be broadcasted on NEC Front Row.

TWITTER HANDLES: @KizerBlueDevil, @NECwsoccer | #GoBlueDevils #NECWSOC

TOURNAMENT NOTES

AGAINST SFU • Central Connecticut and the Red Flash have met once before in the NEC semifinal game, dating back to the 2013 postseason where SFU prevailed 3-1. The Blue Devils came up short in last year's NEC Championship to Saint Francis 2-0 in Loretto, PA. Central handed SFU its first conference loss in a 1-0 double-overtime thriller in New Britain, CT on Friday, Oct. 13. The Bed Flash holds a slight 12-9-3 overall advantage in the series history.

TO DATE • The Blue Devils are 11-5 in semifinal contests and 19-8 all-time in NEC Tournament play. The last time CCSU visited Fairleigh Dickinson for the NEC Tournament was in 2010 when they fell to first-seeded LIU Brooklyn in the semis. The Blue Devils won the 2004 NEC Title at Fairleigh Dickinson, defeating Sacred Heart 4-1 on penalty kicks. Central in 2-1 in NEC Tournament games at FDU.

THE FIELD • CCSU is 1-2 all-time against the 2017 field of teams in the NEC Tournament. The New Britain squad is 2-1 this season against Bryant, Saint Francis U. and Fairleigh Dickinson.

CHAMPIONSHIP TRADITION • CCSU won the 2014 NEC Championship over Fairleigh Dickinson on their home field two years ago, 2-0. The Blue Devils have now reached the NEC Tournament 17 times, including nine-straight NEC Tournament appearances from 2002-2010. The Blue Devils have won eight NEC Championships: 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2014. Six came under Head Coach Mick D'Arcy ('02, '03, '04, '05, '08, '14).

THE STREAK • CCSU is currently one of two NCAA Division 1 schools on a six-game shutout streak. The Blue Devils tied the program record of most consecutive shutouts of six set in 2016. The Blue Devils are ranked 10th nationally for their six-game win streak. 

CAVANAUGH • Junior goal keeper, Ashley Cavanaugh is just one shutout away from tying the proram record for the most shutouts in a single-season, 10 (Ashley Ferra, 2005). Cavanaugh currently holds the all-time school record for fewest goals allowed in a season (10). The old record, 15, is also held by Ashley Ferra from the 2005 season.

THE BACK LINE • The Central defense, led by three-time NEC Defender of the Year Jennifer Cafferky, broke the school record for the least goals allowed during NEC play, surrendering just two this year. During the 2016 season, CCSU allowed a mere four goals against NEC foes, combining for an incredible six goals against in the last 16 NEC regular season matches. The Blue Devils currently have the program record for most goals allowed in a season, 13, heading into the NEC Tournament. The old record, 20, was set by the 2005 CCSU women's soccer team.

The Northeast Conference Championship is slated for Sunday, Nov. 5 at noon.