Box Score Oct. 30, 2009
Box Score |
Photo Gallery 
| 10/30/09 - Highlights vs. Saint Joseph's 
Bronx, N.Y. -
Playing against a winless team can be a dangerous thing as the Fordham University men's soccer squad discovered on Friday night. Facing Saint Joseph's, who entered the game without a win in 13 tries, the Rams used a late Tim Richardson goal to scratch out a 1-0 Atlantic 10 win over the Hawks on Jack Coffey Field.
With the win, the Rams remain in first place in the Atlantic 10 with a 5-1-1 conference mark, 8-6-2 overall, while Saint Joseph's falls to 0-14 overall, 0-6 in the league.
On the game-winner, Patrick Murray fed Richardson on the right sideline and Richardson dribbled across to the field and towards goal, getting off a blast from about 15 yards that beat Saint Joseph's keeper Andrew D'Ottavi on the ground to the near post in the 84th minute. It was Richardson's team-leading sixth goal of the year.
Fordham keeper Ryan Meara had a big part in keeping the game scoreless in the second half, stopping a Saint Joseph's penalty kick. The Hawks were awarded the penalty kick after the Rams were whistled for a hand ball in the box in the 61st minute. Colin Baker took the penalty kick for Saint Joseph's and tried to beat Meara on the ground. But Meara dove to his left and smothered the ball, thwarting the Hawks' scoring chance.
The Rams controlled play in the first half, outshooting Saint Joseph's 7-1 in the period, before the Hawks started developing some scoring opportunities in the second stanza, outshooting Fordham, 6-5.
In the first half, John Niyonsaba had a chance to put the Rams on the board as he snuck behind the Saint Joseph's defense, but his shot from 15 yards in the 37th minute ended up over the cross bar as D'Ottavi came off the line to challenge him.
The Hawks also had a prime scoring prospect in the half but a direct kick from just outside the box off the foot of Baker was easily caught by Meara.
Early in the second half, Richardson got off a header from ten yards that was just wide while a few minutes later, the Hawks had another chance off a set piece but Baker's shot went high.
In the 59th minute Saint Joseph's Greg Rom got by his defender but his shot from 20 yards went wide right.
Just after the missed Hawk penalty kick, Richardson found an opening the Saint Joseph's defense, taking the ball to the left and getting off a shot on the ground from 20 yards that just went by the far post.
Meara finished with three saves in the Fordham net as he notched his sixth shutout the year and lowered his GAA to 1.15. D'Ottavi recorded four saves in the Saint Joseph's net.
The Rams will next be in action on Sunday, November 1st, as they host the Temple University Owls in an Atlantic 10 match on Jack Coffey Field at 1:00 PM.
