Box Score Aug. 22, 2010
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Bronx, N.Y. -
Fighting through some heavy rain over the final 15 minutes, the Fordham women's soccer team, led by team captains Katie McDermott and Michelle Ancelj, came up with a season-opening win over the Seton Hall Pirates by a 1-0 score at Jack Coffey Field.
Both teams kept chances at a minimum through the first half with Fordham collecting four shots to Seton Hall's three, but there were three prime scoring chances.
In the fourth minute, Fordham's Danielle Ingram sent in Kelsey Dougherty Howard from 30 yards out for a mini-breakaway, but Seton Hall's Jennifer Pettigrew made a kick save 12 yards out to keep Fordham scoreless.
Seton Hall then had their first chance in the 21st minute, as a cross deflected off a head directly to the Pirates' Marie Klemme, who fired at net with Fordham goalkeeper Rachel Suther making a kick save.
Later in the half, Fordham again got a mini-breakaway, as
Megan O'Conor received a cross from the right side 25 yards out. Pettigrew came out to challenge the shot and made the save from 12 yards out.
The tide then went in Fordham's favor in the second half, scoring the only goal of the game in the 51st minute. After a throw-in, Katie McDermott picked up the ball in the midfield, and chipped it toward goal. With two defenders around her, Michelle Ancelj was able to one-touch around one of the defenders and than chip ball past the goalkeeper on the left side for a 1-0 lead. The goal was the 13th of Ancelj's career.
Seton Hall almost got the equalizer just nine minutes later. Off an attempted Fordham clear, Seton Hall got the ball back in the box to Amy Ruhe on the right side. Suther then made a sliding save on Ruhe, keeping Fordham ahead by one.
Suther and the Rams' backline, comprised of Lauren Nowakowski, Mary Solimine, and Kaitlyn Carballeira, made that lead hold up as the Rams' posted their first shutout of the season.
Suther finished with five saves for her fifth career shutout, while Pettigrew had four saves for the Pirates.
The Fordham women's soccer team will next be in action on Tuesday, August 24th, when the Rams host the University of Maine, beginning at 1:00 PM on Jack Coffey Field.
Game Notes: With the win today, Fordham improved their record to 9-8-1 all-time in season openers and 10-7-1 in home openers... The Rams are now 4-3 all-time against Seton Hall... The win marked the eighth time that Fordham has started a season with a shutout victory.... The assist by McDermott is the ninth of her career, which is tied for 12th all-time at Fordham.
