Women’s Soccer Faces George Mason in A-10 Championship Quarterfinals on Thursday

Kingston, R.I. - For the second straight season, the Fordham women's soccer team is in the Atlantic 10 Championship, and has unfinished business after falling to Duquesne in the championship final last season.  The Rams are seeded fifth, just like last year, in the eight-team tournament and will play fourth-seeded George Mason in the quarterfinal round on Thursday at 8:00 PM.
 
The winner of that game faces the winner of top-seeded Saint Joseph's and eighth-seeded Rhode Island on Friday at 8:00 PM.  The championship game is set for Sunday, November 6th at noon and will be televised by the American Sports Network.
 
GAME COVERAGE:
Thursday – Fordham vs. George Mason – 8:00 PM - Game Notes | Live Stats | Live Video (Free) | Follow on Twitter @FordhamWSoccer
 
SERIES HISTORY: Having just met five days ago, this is the sixth meeting between the Rams and Patriots with George Mason holding a 2-0-3 edge in the series.  The two teams have played to three consecutive ties dating back to last season.  In the regular season finale last season, it was a 1-1 game, courtesy of a late marker by Fordham's Brianna Blunck.  Then just five days later, the team matched-up against in the Atlantic 10 Championship semifinals, which also ended in a 1-1 tie, with Fordham advancing to the championship game on penalty kicks, 4-2.  In this season's regular season finale, the Rams once again got a late goal, this time by Amanda Miller, to earn a 2-2 tie with George Mason.
 
LAST TIME OUT (10/30): Behind goals from Brooke Salmon and Amanda Miller, the Fordham women's soccer team posted a 2-2 draw with the George Mason Patriots at George Mason Stadium, capping off the regular season on Sunday afternoon.
 
George Mason opened the scoring in the 18th minute, as after a clearance, Abby Downey rifled a shot from 35 yards out to the right side of goal for her fourth of the season.
 
That 1-0 score held until the 56th minute of the second half.  Fordham's Margaret Roughley got a close range volley to Brooke Salmon, who knocked in her team-leading fifth goal of the season to knot the game at one.

 
The Patriots regained the lead at 2-1 in the 70th minute.  Erin Mitchell sent a cross from the left side toward the top of the box.  Alex Myers collected the ball and picked the top left corner just under the crossbar for her fifth goal of the season.  It marked the first time since September 23rd that the Rams allowed more than one goal in a game.
 
Then in almost the same fashion as last year's regular season finale against George Mason, Fordham scored late in the second half to tie the game.  Last year, it was a goal by Brianna Blunck, but this time it was Amanda Miller, who tied the game in the 87th minute to force overtime, as she beat a George Mason defender and the goalkeeper for her second goal of the season.
Neither team was able to get the decisive third goal, as the game ended in a 2-2 draw.  Fordham goalkeeper Megan Fitzgerald and George Mason goalkeeper Kirsten Glad each made three saves in the tie.
 
MILLER NAMED ATLANTIC 10 ROOKIE OF THE WEEK (10/31): The Atlantic 10 Conference announced its final weekly women's soccer awards on October 31st with Fordham freshman Amanda Miller being named the league's Rookie of the Week.  It is Miller's first career weekly award.
 
With Fordham trailing 2-1 to George Mason late in the second half, Miller netted her second goal of the season in the 87th minute to knot the game at two.  The Rams went on to tie the Patriots and secured the fifth seed at this week's Atlantic 10 Championship.
 
A-10 ANNOUNCES ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS (11/2): Just a day before the start of the Atlantic 10 Championship, the conference released its All-Conference women's soccer teams and major award winners on Wednesday, as voted upon by the league's coaches.  Four Rams heard their names called in the release, including a pair of First Team selection.
 
Fordham was led by seniors Nicole Bates and Ally Doyle, who were named First Team All-Atlantic 10, while Brooke Salmon was named Second Team All-Atlantic 10. Margaret Roughley was selected to the conference's All-Rookie Team, as well as Bates earning All-Academic Team honors in a vote of the conference's sports information directors.
 
The full story on the award winners can be found here.