Teaneck, N.J. – The Le Moyne College men's soccer team's 2023 campaign came to an end on Sunday as the sixth-seeded Dolphins fell to the third-seeded FDU Knights in the First Round of the NEC Tournament by a score of 2-1 at FDU's University Stadium.

The Dolphins outshot the Knights by a tally of 17-13, but FDU opened a 2-0 lead in the 58^th minute as Eric Dlabal put away a rebound opportunity following an FDU free kick from just outside the Le Moyne 18-yard box.

Le Moyne made it 2-1 with just over a minute remaining in the second half when redshirt-junior defender Jack Goodrich (Kelsall, England/King's School Chester) sent a corner kick to the far post where graduate defender Benedict Klimmek (Kiel, Germany/RBZ am Schützenpark) placed a header into the back of the net.

The goal was Klimmek's first of the season, and Goodrich tallied his team-leading seventh assist of the campaign on the play.

"Obviously not the result we wanted, but I leave proud of everything the guys gave in this first year as a Division I program. They've shown they deserve to be at this level and I've thoroughly enjoyed working with this group," said Le Moyne head coach Callum Donnelly '17, M '21. "I thought we showed our nerves early on in the match but felt we dominated the rest of the first half after they scored. Our sport is a game of fine margins. We had a great chance at 1-0 to equalize in the second half, but their goalkeeper made a brilliant save. They then go up and score shortly after to make it 2-0.

"We fought till the very end and came up just short. I am proud of them and I'm excited to see how this program looks going forward. I want to thank the seniors for everything they gave to the program," Donnelly added.

The Dolphins created a great chance to tie the game at 1-1 in the 51^st minute when Goodrich slipped a pass towards the end line for graduate midfielder Luca Nicastro (Ottawa, Ontario/Nepean/St. Bonaventure), who played a ball in the air across the box for graduate defender Brett Stern (Lockport, N.Y./Newfane/Duquesne) who knocked it out of the air and redirected it onto goal, but FDU graduate goalkeeper Spencer King made the point-blank save to maintain his team's 1-0 lead.

King made four of his six saves during the final 45 minutes.

The Dolphins outshot the Knights by a tally of 11-7 during the second half.

Both teams took five corner kicks.

Le Moyne freshman goalkeeper Wyatt Dupell (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) recorded five saves during the loss.

The Dolphins finish their first season as Division I members of the Northeast Conference with a 2-8-7 record, and a 2-3-3 record in regular season conference play.

Under first-year head coach Callum Donnelly, Le Moyne extended its conference postseason appearance streak to 22 consecutive seasons.