As the days of preseason continue, the competition for the Fordham women's soccer team jumped up for Tuesday night's exhibition with the Hofstra Pride visiting Jack Coffey Field.  It was a tightly fought scrimmage, where both teams played some high level soccer.
 
"This was a great test for our team tonight.  For our freshmen, it gave them an opportunity to play against high level soccer for the first time and see what their potential is, and I think we can and will be better.  It was a great game to see where we are with one exhibition left," said head coach Ness Selmani following the game.
 
The first half was scoreless with both squads playing very well defensively.  Each team had one good scoring chance in the period.  In the 25^th minute, Fordham goalkeeper Ally White kept Hofstra off the scoreboard with a diving save to her right, which was then kicked out for a Pride corner kick.  White was then able to haul in the cross off the corner and avoid any further trouble.
 
On offense, the Rams' best scoring chance came off a long ball by Mary Solimine toward the box in the 40^th minute, where Ally Doyle was able to flick a shot toward goal, but went off the side of the net.
 
As the game progressed, Hofstra got a few more scoring chances early in the second half, but remained off the scoreboard going into the final 20 minutes.  One primary reason for that was the standout play of senior Kaitlyn Carballeira, who was honored earlier in the day with a Preseason All-Conference honor by College Sports Madness.com.
 
"Carballeira is just so steady.  Every single game she gives 100% percent, wins every 50/50 ball, and brings a calmness to the team when she is on the field," said Selmani.
 
Another player who seemed to pick up some steam was freshman Turner Block.  After missing her senior season of high school with an injury, she had a good offensive night with three shots, where Hofstra's goalkeeper had to make strong plays on two of those opportunities to keep the freshman from registering a goal.  The netminder made one save on a Block chip shot in the 51^st minute, while on a chance later in the second half, Block got away from the defender on a break and the goalkeeper had to slide out to grab the ball away from the attacking Block.
 
"Turner has a great future here at Fordham, and you saw glimpses tonight.  She is fast and relentless and we love having players like that and we have plenty of them on the team this year," said Selmani.
 
The final exhibition game of the preseason for the women's soccer team will take place on Saturday, August 17^th, when Fordham hosts Fairleigh Dickinson at 1:00 PM on Jack Coffey Field.