Oct. 12, 2012
Live Stats | Watch (Fee required)
Bronx, N.Y. -
After opening the 2012 Atlantic 10 schedule last weekend with a 1-0 overtime loss at La Salle, the Fordham University men's soccer team continues its A-10 slate on Friday night as they travel to Charlotte, N.C., to face the 22nd-ranked Charlotte 49ers at 7:00 p.m.
The Rams, currently 4-4-1 on the season, 0-1-0 in the Atlantic 10, after the overtime loss at La Salle last Friday, are 3-1-1 in their past five matches, allowing just two goals in the five games.
Offensively, Fordham is led by Kalle Sotka who has two goals and one assist on the year for five points while Kyle Bitterman, who scored his first collegiate goal in overtime to beat Manhattan, has four points and Michael Valencia has a goal and an assist for three points. Tommy Granot and Ryan Walsh have also contributed to the offense with two points each.
The team's biggest strength for the second straight year is the defense. Goalie Sean Brailey has a 4-4-1 mark and a 0.63 GAA with four shutouts to his credit, while the back line of Ryan Curran, Michael Stalker, Casper Gimand and Ryan Cupolo have allowed just six goals in nine games.
The 49ers enter the game with a 7-2-2 overall record, 1-1-0 in the Atlantic 10, and are coming off a 2-0 A-10 win at Richmond last Sunday. Charlotte is led offensively by Giuseppe Gentile, who has four goals and one assist for nine points, and Donnie Smith, who has found the back of the net three times and has two helpers for eight points. In goal, Klay Davis has a 7-2-2 record with four shutouts and a 1.00 GAA.
Last year, the Rams defeated Charlotte, who entered the game ranked tenth in the nation, 1-0 on Jack Coffey Field. John Niyonsaba netted the game's lone goal for Fordham while Ryan Meara recorded a pair of saves in recording the clean sheet.
Following the matchup with Charlotte, the Rams remain on the road as they travel up to the nation's capital, Washington, D.C., to face the George Washington University Colonials in an Atlantic 10 matchup on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
