Box Score Oct. 26, 2007
Box Score
Bronx, N.Y. -
After out-shooting Xavier 6-2 in the first half, the Fordham University women's soccer squad had nothing to show for it, trailing the Musketeers, 1-0, at the break. But the second half was all Fordham, as the Rams took advantage of a Xavier red card to score three goals over the final 25 minutes for a 3-1 Atlantic 10 win over Xavier on a rain-soaked Jack Coffey Field.
With the win, Fordham improves to 8-4-3 overall, 5-1-2 in the Atlantic 10, while Xavier falls to 4-13-1 overall, 3-6-1 in the conference.
The Rams controlled play early with Katie Sanchez almost giving Fordham a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute when she took a cross and blasted a shot from 15 yards that Xavier keeper Kelly Farrell was able to deflect.
Later in the half, Brittany Hogan dribbled in off a long feed and slid a shot past Farrell and just wide of the net.
Despite Fordham controlling play for most of the half, it was Xavier who struck first when Sara Schmidt gave the Musketeers a 1-0 lead in the 35th minute with her first goal of the year. The goal came off a Xavier corner kick that the Rams deflected to Lizzy Gerard who got off a shot that was knocked down in front. The loose ball came to Schmidt, who one-timed it from 15 yards off a Fordham defender and into the net.
The Rams received a break when Xavier's Lauren Nutini received a red card in the 58th minute, forcing the Musketeers to play a man-down the rest of the way.
It took Fordham seven minutes to score the equalizer as Sanchez launched a cross into the box that Liane Schoenstein got a head on, putting it over the head of Farrell for her first tally of the year.
In the 79th minute, Alexis Ribadeneyra netted what proved to be the game-winner when she took a long feed from Danielle Ingram and raced in on goal alone, placing the ball over of an onrushing Farrell for her second goal of the season.
The Rams added an insurance goal in the 86th minute when Ribadeneyra got off a blast from 25 yards that Farrell made a save on but the rebound came to the foot of Courtney Fedge, who put it in the open net for her first mark of the year.
Elisabeth Roald made one save in the Fordham net to pick up her second win of the year while Farrell finished with six saves for Xavier.
The Rams will next be in action on Sunday, October 28th as they host the University of Dayton Flyers on Jack Coffey Field at 12:00 PM in the first game of an Atlantic 10 soccer doubleheader. The Fordham men will host Duquesne University immediately following the women's game.
