Chicago, Ill. – (August 19, 2016) – The 2016 Fordham women's soccer season got underway on Friday with the Rams playing to a 1-1 draw with the DePaul Blue Demons at Wish Field in Chicago, Illinois.
The tie marks just the second time in Fordham's program history that the Rams have opened the season with a draw. The only other time came in 1999 against St. John's.
Fordham got on the board first in the 21
st minute.
Clare Paoletta picked up the ball off a scramble and popped in her first goal of the season into an open net from the left side. It was her third career goal and first since the 2014 season finale at St. Bonaventure.
The score remained in favor of the Rams until the 80
th minute, when DePaul was awarded a penalty kick, which Abby Reed converted on to tie the game at one.
Megan Fitzgerald made five saves in her season debut on Friday.
Each team had a chance to take the lead in the remaining regulation time and overtime. In the 84
th minute, DePaul's Lauren Frasca came up with a save on a shot from Fordham's
Clara Gastaldi, while in overtime, Fordham's
Megan Fitzgerald made two saves to keep the game knotted at one.
Overall, Fitzgerald made five saves for the Rams, while Frasca had three for the Blue Demons. DePaul ended the match with a 12-7 shot edge and posted six corner kicks to Fordham's one.
The Fordham women's soccer team concludes their trip to Chicago on Sunday, August 21
st, when the Rams take on Loyola-Chicago at Loyola Soccer Park, beginning at 2:00 PM ET (1:00 PM CT).
