Box Score Nov. 5, 2010
Box Score
Bronx, N.Y. -
Heading into the final weekend of conference play, the Fordham men's soccer team needed a strong start on Friday night to keep their postseason hopes alive. The team faced Dayton, a team the Rams were only 3-10 all-time against in Atlantic 10 play. Fordham however threw history aside, getting a Michael Valencia goal late in the first half to pull out a 1-0 win over the visiting Flyers on Jack Coffey Field. The win marked the Rams' first 10-win season since 1998.
With the win, Fordham improves to 10-7 overall, 5-3 in the Atlantic 10, while Dayton falls to 7-7-3 overall, 3-3-2 in the league. The win gives Fordham 15 points in league play, moving it into a four-way tie for third place with Saint Louis, Temple, and St. Bonaventure and only one game remaining on each team's schedule. Despite the four-way tie, the Rams will have control their own destiny as with a win on Sunday, they will clinch one of the six berths at next weekend's Atlantic 10 Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Chances were few and far between in the first half, as only seven shots were registered, four of which by Fordham. Louis Vigliotti had the first scoring opportunity for the Rams, as he got loose in the 17th minute down the right side of the box, and fired a shot that just missed the right post.
The Rams were able to find the back of the net later in the half in the 42nd minute. Fordham's Brett Heyder crossed the ball from the left sideline toward the top of the box, where Tim Richardson angled the ball with a header to the right side of the box. Michael Valencia quickly picked up the ball, and nailed a shot into the left side of the net for his first goal of the season.
The second half saw Dayton push the attack as they tried to find the equalizer. The Flyers totaled 10 second half shots, but were denied by Fordham goalkeeper Ryan Meara, who made six of his seven stops in that period. For Meara, it was his sixth solo shutout of the season, and seventh overall by the Rams this season, while for Dayton, Tyler Picard had one save in goal.
The Fordham men's soccer team will next be in action on Sunday, November 5th, as it wraps up the regular season with a home game against the Xavier Musketeers at Jack Coffey Field, beginning at 1:00 PM.
Scoring Summary
1st Goal - Fordham - Michael Valencia 1 (Brett Heyder, Tim Richardson) 41:47
Goalkeepers
Fordham - Ryan Meara (10-7-0, 7 saves)
Dayton - Tyler Picard (7-7-3, 1 save)
