After splitting the first two games of the season down in Virginia, the Fordham men's soccer team begins its home slate of games on Friday against Yale as the first half of a soccer doubleheader at Jack Coffey Field. Free snacks and refreshments will be available throughout the night's action.
Fordham is coming over a 2-1 victory over Virginia Tech on Sunday, while this is Yale's first game of the season. The Bulldogs were 4-8-5 in 2012.
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SERIES HISTORY AGAINST YALE: The Rams and Bulldogs have met only twice over the last 25 years in 1990 and 2012. Both contests were play at Yale with the Bulldogs winning the 1990 match-up, 1-0, in overtime, while last year's game on September 21st was double overtime scoreless tie.
In that tie, Fordham goalkeeper Sean Brailey posted the shutout in goal, making two saves on 11 total shots, while Yale's Bobby Thalman recorded one save on eight shots.
LAST TIME OUT: The Fordham men's soccer squad was on a mission on Sunday afternoon to get rid of the sour taste of Friday night's overtime loss to James Madison. The Rams did that and then some, as Jon Agostino and Taylor Gulbins both scored in a 2-1 victory over Virginia Tech at the JMU Invitational in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
The win evens Fordham's record at 1-1, and is the first win by Fordham over an ACC school since Jim McElderry took over as head coach. It was also the Rams' first win against Virginia Tech since 1996, when both schools were members of the Atlantic 10.
Virginia Tech got the first scoring chance in the opening minute, but it was Fordham's first chance that resulted in a goal. In the 17th minute, Blake Bohlen's shot was stopped by Hokies' goalkeeper Kyle Renfro, but Agostino pounced on the rebound to score his first collegiate goal.
The score remained at 1-0 until late in the half, when Fordham struck again to take a two-goal lead. This time, it was Gulbins finishing off a cross from Kyle Bitterman for his first marker of the year.
Virginia Tech picked up the pressure in the second half, but the Fordham defense and Alex Naples held strong with Naples picking up two saves over the first 25 minutes. Then in the 74th minute, the Hokies broke through, cutting the Fordham lead in half. Daniel Lauretano headed home a cross from Robert Alberti for his first of the season.
Fordham though was able to hold of six more Virginia Tech shots and three corner kicks over the final 16:53 to clinch a 2-1 victory. Naples finished the contest with seven saves to record his first win as a Ram, while Renfro had two stops for the Hokies, who fell to 1-1 on the season. Following the end of the tournament, Fordham's Ollie Kelly, Nathaniel Bekoe, and Casper Gimand were named to the All-Tournament team.
PRESEASON ACCOLADES/RANKINGS: The Atlantic 10 Conference announced its 2013 Men's Soccer Preseason Poll and Preseason All-Conference and All-Rookie Squads with Fordham selected to finish sixth in the 13-team league. In addition to the poll, freshman Andrew Hickey was named to the Conference's Preseason All-Rookie Team.
Saint Louis received 11 of a possible 12 first-place votes and a total of 143 points to take the top spot. VCU picked up the remaining first-place nod and 133 points to place second in the poll. The league's newest member George Mason was slotted third with 113 points, just one point ahead of Dayton which landed in fourth. La Salle was fifth with 89 points, while Fordham (84 pts.) and Duquesne (70 pts.) were tabbed sixth and seventh, respectively. Rhode Island (51 pts.), Massachusetts (50 pts.), George Washington (50 pts.), Saint Bonaventure (28 pts.) and Saint Joseph's (15 pts.) round out the poll.
Hickey was one of eight players named to the All-Rookie squad. The 5-11 defender from Kilkenny, Ireland, is one of two international additions to Fordham for this upcoming season. He spent two years at CBS Kilkenny in Ireland before attending Montverde Academy in Florida for his final two seasons of high school. He played varsity soccer in both seasons at Montverde at left back, helping the squad to an undefeated record and a #1 ranking in the U.S. by three different high school soccer polls. Individually, Hickey was ranked #78 in the ESPN Rise recruiting class for 2013 and was selected to the All-Tournament team at both the Montverde Academy Soccer Tournament and the Berkley Prep Tournament.
Prior to his play at Montverde, Hickey was the starting left back for the Kilkenny U18 team, which won the U18 National Championship. He was also selected to be a part of Ireland's Emerging Talents Program for three seasons, while taking part in the Irish U16 National team trials and team camp.
On top of the Atlantic 10's release, College Sports Madness (CSM) also announced its Preseason All-Conference Teams for Atlantic 10 Conference. Fordham had one selection to the preseason squad, as sophomore Kyle Bitterman was selected to Second Team All-League.
Bitterman had a quality first season with Fordham in 2012, as he was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team. He played in all 17 games as a freshman, starting 14, and tied for the team lead in scoring with six points. He netted two goals and two assists on the year with both goals being game-winners.
WHO'S NEXT: Following Friday's action, the Fordham men's soccer team will next be in action on Tuesday, September 10th, when the team travels to Boston, Massachusetts for a 4:00 PM match against Northeastern.
