Bronx, N.Y. – Following a 1-1 draw to open conference action, the Fordham men's soccer team returns home to Jack Coffey Field for a pair of conference matches this week. The Rams host La Salle on Wednesday night at 7:00 PM, while on Saturday, it is a re-match of last year's Atlantic 10 Championship match, as Fordham and VCU play under the lights at 7:00 PM.
Fordham (6-2-2, 0-0-1 A10) enters the week on a six-game unbeaten streak for the first time since 2009, going 5-0-1 in that stretch. Fordham's first opponent, La Salle, is 4-5-1 overall this season, 0-1 in the conference after falling to Duquesne over the weekend. VCU is 3-3 on the year, having had two games cancelled this season. VCU will have their opening conference game on Wednesday at home against Davidson.
GAME COVERAGE:
Wednesday – La Salle at Fordham – 7:00 PM –
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Saturday – VCU at Fordham – 7:00 PM –
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SERIES HISTORY: This will be the 31
st all-time meeting between Fordham and La Salle, as the series dates back to 1983, when both were members of the MAAC. The Explorers hold a 16-11-3 edge in the series, however Fordham has gotten the better of La Salle as of late, winning the last three matches, including a 1-0 decision at La Salle last season.
For VCU, this is the seventh all-time match in the "Battle of the Rams", with VCU holding a 2-0-4 edge in the series. Though Fordham has not won a game outright against VCU, two of the four ties have happened at the Atlantic 10 Championship, where in both games, Fordham advanced in the Championship in penalty kick shootouts. In 2014, it was a 0-0 draw with Fordham moving into the semifinals, 5-3 on penalty kicks, while last season, the shootout was in the championship final with Fordham taking that 3-2 to win their third Atlantic 10 Championship.
RAMS AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS: As of October 2
nd, the Rams are ranked in the top 30 nationally in goals against average (7
th), shutout percentage (9
th), save percentage (23
rd), and corner kicks per game (28
th). Individually,
Janos Loebe and
Rashid Nuhu rank in the top 30 in multiple categories. Loebe is tied for second in the nation in game-winning goals with four, while being 24
th in assists (5), 26
th in points (15), and 28
th in shots per game (3.4). Nuhu is tied for seventh in shutouts with six, while being 9
th in goals against average (0.574).
LAST TIME OUT: In an extremely physical contest, the Fordham Rams and George Mason Patriots played to a 1-1 draw in the Atlantic 10 men's soccer opener for both schools on Saturday night at George Mason Stadium.
Jannik Loebe
George Mason struck first in the 37
th minute, as David Galdo found Henning Dirks for a shot from 18 yards out that went over Fordham goalkeeper
Rashid Nuhu into the center of the net for his eighth goal of the year.
The score remained at 1-0 until the 84
th minute, when Fordham found the equalizer.
Jannik Loebe got off an initial shot that was stopped by George Mason goalkeeper Tomas Lapnas, but Jannik tapped in the rebound for his fourth goal of the season.
The game went into overtime with Fordham having the better of play with three corner kicks and a shot by
Janos Loebe that was stopped by Lapnas in the 107
th minute, but neither team could get the deciding marker. The physicality lasted through the full 110 minutes of action with 41 fouls called in the game, as well as five yellow cards.
WHO'S NEXT: Following this week, the Rams will be at St. Bonaventure for their next contest on Wednesday, October 11
th at 7 PM, while returning home for a Saturday, October 14
th date with Saint Joseph's, beginning at 7:00 PM.
