Box Score Oct. 25, 2009
Box Score
Charlotte, N.C. -
After falling to Saint Louis on Friday night, the Fordham University men's soccer squad was hoping to return home from their Atlantic 10 road trip on a positive note. However, they had to face the ninth-ranked Charlotte 49ers on Sunday and the Rams trailed 2-1 with three minutes remaining. But a timely score from the foot of Alex Brunbauer tied the game for the Rams and they played two scoreless overtimes as Fordham picked up a point with a 2-2 tie.
With the tie, the Rams go to 7-6-2 overall, 4-1-1 in the Atlantic 10, while Charlotte moves to 9-1-4 on the year, 3-0-2 in conference play. Fordham sits on first place in the conference with 14 points, one ahead of Dayton (4-1-0) and Saint Louis (4-1-0).
On the game-tying goal, Brunbauer found the back of the net from eight yards out on the left side of the penalty area after collecting a pass from Mike McTigue. The goal came with just 2:23 left in regulation and was Brunbauer's second of the season.
The 49ers outshot the Rams 5-2 in the two overtime periods but couldn't put one past Fordham keeper Ryan Meara, who made three saves in the overtime and seven total in the contest.
The Rams opened up the scoring early in the game behind a goal from Tim Richardson in the fifth minute. Richardson was set up by a one-two pass from Matt Courtenay and John Niyonsaba to give Fordham the 1-0 lead with his team-leading fifth goal of the year.
Charlotte answered back twelve minutes later with an unassisted Adam Gross goal. Gross stripped the ball from a Fordham midfielder and dribbled towards the Rams' defense before ripping a shot into the far left corner to knot the game at one apiece.
The game remained tied going into halftime with Charlotte holding an 8-2 shot advantage on a breezy day at Transamerica Field.
Charles Rodriguez gave Charlotte the lead in the 61st minute off a header from a senior Luke Exley cross. Exley centered the ball from the right side of the pitch and Rodriguez headed the ball into the right side of the net to give Charlotte the lead, 2-1.
For the remainder of the second half, Charlotte kept up the offensive pressure by outshooting the visiting Rams, 11-5, in the period. However, Fordham made the most of its opportunities by tying the match at two with three minutes to go in the game.
The Rams will next be in action on Friday night, October 30th, as they host Saint Joseph's University in an Atlantic 10 match on Jack Coffey Field at 7:00 PM.
