Women’s Soccer Takes on Hofstra & UConn This Weekend

Bronx, N.Y. - Following a pair of draws last weekend, the Fordham women's soccer team has a pair of games this weekend, as the Rams will be at Hofstra on Friday night at 7:00 PM, while UConn comes to Jack Coffey Field for a Sunday matinee at 1:00 PM to start a four-match homestand for Fordham.
 
GAME COVERAGE:
Friday –Fordham at Hofstra – 7:00 PM – Live Video | Live Stats | Follow on Twitter @FordhamWSoccer
 
Sunday – UConn at Fordham – 1:00 PM – Live Video | Live Stats | Follow on Twitter @FordhamWSoccer
 
SERIES HISTORY: This will be the 16^th meeting between Fordham and Hofstra.  The Pride have gotten the better of the series, leading by a 12-2-1 count.  Last season, Hofstra took the contest by a 2-1 score with Amanda Miller scoring the Rams' goal.  Fordham's last win in the series was a 2-1 win in 2004.
 
On Sunday, it will be the second-ever meeting between Fordham and UConn.  The Huskies, who were ranked 23^rd at the time, won last year's match-up, 4-1, a behind a goal and three assists from Stephanie Ribeiro.  Nicol Natale had the Rams' goal in that game.
 
WOMEN'S SOCCER ALUMNI GAME SET FOR SEPTEMBER 17^th: The Fordham women's soccer team announced that this year's Alumni game will take place on Sunday, September 17th, prior to the Rams' contest against Hartford.
 
The Alumni Game will start promptly at 11:00 AM on Jack Coffey Field with a postgame reception to follow at noon where alumni, family, and friends can meet the current team and coaching staff.  Food and drinks will be served.   There is a $20 registration fee for adults, which includes a $10 tax-deductible gift to the women's soccer program.  Children 10 and under are free.  The Fordham-Hartford game is set for a 1:00 PM start to cap the day.
 
Alumni interested in participating in game or coming to the reception are asked to register on-line.  If you have any additional questions, contact assistant coach Ally White at awhite28@fordham.edu or at (718) 817-5967.
 
LAST TIME OUT: Meeting for the first time in 23 years, the Fordham Rams and the Holy Cross Crusaders competed against each other and Mother Nature for a full 110 minutes, but no goals were to be had as the game ended in a 0-0 draw at Jack Coffey Field on Sunday.
 
It was a sluggish first half, as both squads dealt with the aftereffects of heavy rains in the New York area, which caused a number of puddles around the field, slowing down the pace of play.

 
With only two shots recorded in the first half, the teams did put together some quality scoring chances in the second half and overtime.  In the 57^th minute, Fordham's Morgan Busacca took a quick corner out to Emma Johnson who crossed the ball into the box.  Natalie Sims got a head on the cross, but it slid past the right post out of play.
 
Then in the 62^nd minute, the Rams pulled off a quick counterattack with Crea Baker-Durante finding Clara Gastaldi on the run at the top of the box.  Gastaldi tried to find the lower right corner from 13 yards, but Holy Cross netminder Caroline Cashion made the stop.

Later in the 82^nd minute, Holy Cross had a very dangerous chance, as Lily Puccia launched a cross from the far side that Fordham goalkeeper Kelly LaMorte was able to catch and just keep the ball off the goal line.
 
From there, the game went into overtime, where Fordham had another chance in the 92^nd minute, when Baker-Durante got within 10 yards and fired a shot to the upper 90, which was fisted away by the goalkeeper.  Carlie Wagner picked up the rebound, but her second chance sailed wide.
 
The final scoring chance to break the tie came in the 107^th minute off a Busacca corner kick, causing a scramble in front of the net.  Amanda Miller got a foot on it right at the top of the six-yard box, and shot to the left post.  However, a Holy Cross defender was there to keep the ball out of the net, and clear the play.
 
In net, Cashion made two saves for the Crusaders, while LaMorte had one for Fordham, as each keeper was credited with the shutout. 

WHO'S NEXT: Following this weekend, the Rams continue their homestand on Friday, September 15^th, when the Rams host Columbia at 7:00 PM, while Hartford comes to Coffey Field on Sunday, September 17^th at 1:00 PM.