Sept. 13, 2011

Bronx, N.Y. - The NCAA has released the first national rankings of the 2011 men's soccer season and the Fordham Rams find themselves among the nation's best in several categories. The team, currently sporting a 2-2 record, was ranked among individual performances as well as play of the entire squad.

As a unit, the team found themselves ranked 32nd nationally in shutout percentage at .50. In four games this season, Fordham has shutout Hartford and Lehigh. In those games, goalie, Ryan Meara, and defensemen Phil Ferrantello, Casper Gimand, Ryan Curran and Michael Stalker help the team post identical 1-0 blankings. Additionally, Ferratello and Stalker each scored game-winning goals in those contests.

Also underscoring the strength of the Fordham backline, the team ranks 71st in Team Goals Against Average at 1.0, and they are 54th in Save Percentage and 73rd in Saves Per Game. The Rams also have several players ranked near the top in individual categories as well.

Senior midfielder, John McHugh, is ranked 67th in the country in total assists. He has two in four games. He registered a helper in the win over Hartford and more recently in the game against Drake. Also, Meara, a fellow senior, found his name in the top 10 in Goals Against Average (eighth at 0.333) and in Save Percentage (seventh at 0.923).

The Rams are in the middle of a five-game road trip and they return to action on Thursday, September 15 when they play Columbia in Manhattan. The game is slated to begin at 7:00 P.M.