Oct. 5, 2012

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Bronx, N.Y. -

After winning a share of the 2011 Atlantic 10 regular season championships last fall, the Fordham University men's soccer team opens its 2012 Atlantic 10 slate tonight when they travel to Philadelphia to face the La Salle University Explorers at 7:00 p.m.

The Rams, currently 4-3-1 on the season after a 1-0 overtime win over Manhattan on Jack Coffey Field last Friday, are 3-0-1 in their past four matches, allowing just one goal in the four matches.

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 last week, 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 4-3-1 mark and a 0.59 GAA with four shutouts to his credit, while the back line of Ryan Curran, Michael Stalker, Casper Gimand and Ryan Cupolo have allowed just five goals in eight games.

The Explorers enter their Atlantic 10 opener with a 6-2-2 record and are coming off a 1-0 overtime win at Saint Peter's University last Saturday. La Salle is led offensively by Joe Farrell and Jason Plumhoff, who each have three goals and two assists for eight points. In goal, John McCarthy has a 6-2-2 record with five shutouts and a 0.75 GAA.

Following the matchup with La Salle, the Rams remain on the road as they travel to Charlotte, N.C., to face the Charlotte 49ers in an Atlantic 10 match next Friday, October 12th, at 7:00 p.m.