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The Fordham women's soccer team knew they would have their hands full on Friday night, facing the defending Atlantic 10 champion La Salle at McCarthy Stadium in Philadelphia. The Explorers, one of the top scoring teams in the Atlantic 10, were stifled by the Rams' defense for over 100 minutes of action, but Renee Washington broke a scoreless game in the 105
th minute to give La Salle the 1-0 overtime win.
With the loss, Fordham falls to 3-6-2, 1-1 in the Atlantic 10, while La Salle improved to 9-2-1 overall, in 1-0 in the league.
La Salle carried the play early in the match, recording the first four shots, three of which came from Renee Washington. Her first attempt was her best, but Fordham goalkeeper
Ally White was alert and ready with save.
Most of the play over the final 30 minutes took part in the midfield, but Fordham had a scoring chance late in the half. The La Salle keeper fumbled a catch, allowing
Turner Block to try and get a header toward goal, but it was blocked by a La Salle defender, allowing the goalkeeper to get back into the net.
The second half was more of the same with the majority of play around the midfield. Late in the second half, Fordham got a scare, when White collided with a La Salle forward and fell hard to the ground. White would have to leave the game, bringing in freshman
Megan Fitzgerald for the final five minutes.
Fitzgerald was quickly tested with the La Salle best opportunity of the match with Washington alone in front 15 yards from goal. Washington booted the ball toward goal with Fitzgerald coming up with the big save in 89
th minute to force overtime.
White returned to the Fordham goal for overtime, picking up an early save in the second session of extra time. La Salle though would not go away as Maryam Huseini got a cross in the box to Washington. She then knocked the ball in from ten yards out, inside the far post for her sixth goal of the season and the game-winner.
It was a bittersweet ending for Fordham, which saw the Rams come up with a number of defensive stops, led by seniors
Casey Nowakowski,
Kaitlyn Carballeira, and
Mary Solimine and junior
Maria Swift. White ended the match with five saves over 99-plus minutes of work, while Fitzgerald had two stops in just under five minutes of play.
The Rams are back in action on Sunday, October 6
th, when Fordham hosts Saint Joseph's at 1:00 PM on Jack Coffey Field.
