Sept. 1, 2012

Bronx, N.Y. - The Fordham women's soccer team looks to even its record this afternoon at Jack Coffey Field, as the team takes on the Marist College Red Foxes. The Rams are looking to build off a dominant 1-0 victory over Manhattan College last Friday, where Fordham gave up just three shots in the game.

The Red Foxes are 2-1 this season and have been led by Chelsea Botta, who has three goals and an assist for seven points this season.

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SERIES HISTORY: Fordham has an all-time 2-0-0 record against Marist. The last meeting came in 2008, when the Rams earned a 2-1 win in double overtime.

LAST TIME OUT: The Fordham women's soccer team opened the home portion of its 2012 schedule on last Friday with its most familiar opponent, the Manhattan College Jaspers. It was the 20th edition of the Battle of the Bronx, and an early tally by Fordham's Kaitlyn Carballeira held up as the Rams shut out the Jaspers, 1-0, on Jack Coffey Field.

The Rams wasted little time getting on the board, as Fordham scored on the first shot of the game. Fordham's Maria Lorena Canicatti took an early corner kick in the third minute, which found Kaitlyn Carballeira's head perfectly from two yards out for her first goal of the season.

The Rams followed with more and more pressure, registering the first nine shots of the game before Manhattan had their first in the 42nd minute. Martine Diamond got off a quick shot on the right side, which looked headed for goal, but Ally White came across to the post to knock it away, keeping the Rams ahead by one at the break.

Fordham continued to look for that insurance marker, especially forward Kristina Maksuti, who was credited with eight of her game-high 12 shots in the second half. However, Manhattan goalkeeper Kara Davis kept her team in the game, making four second half saves and seven overall keeping the game a one-goal margin.

The Fordham defense made that one goal hold up, limiting the Jaspers to only three shots in the game with White making two stops for her second career shutout.

TEAM CAPTAINS: Seniors Kaitlin Abrams and Annie Worden will serve as the Rams' captains for the 2012 season.

WE'RE BACK!:Fordham returns nine starters from last season, including the Rams' top two scorers in sophomore Kristina Maksuti and senior Annie Worden. Maksuti, an Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team selection, led the Rams with nine goals and five assists for 23 points, while also registering four game-winning goals. Worden notched six goals and three assists for 15 points, as a junior, just one point shy of her career-high.

The Rams also return plenty of experience in the back, which includes senior goalkeeper Rachel Suther, junior defenders Kaitlyn Carballeira, Mary Solimine, Casey Nowakowski, and midfielder Kaitlin Abrams. Suther played in a career-high 17 games a year ago and made a career-best 78 saves, as she solidified her spot as the Rams' top netminder. Between Carballeira, Solimine, Nowakowski, and Abrams, the group had only one player miss a game, breeding plenty of familiarity and confidence.

WHO'S NEXT: The Rams finish a string of three straight home matches on Friday, September 7th, when Fordham hosts the St. John's Red Storm at 7:00 PM on Jack Coffey Field.