Looking to shake up the lineup heading into a crucial Atlantic 10 contest at La Salle, Fordham head coach
Jim McElderry pulled out a Fordham men's soccer first: having two sets of brothers, Andres and
Tomas Penfold and Mike and
Greg McNamara, in the starting line-up. It turned out to be a good decision as the foursome combined for two goals and an assist in a 3-1 win over the Explorers at McCarthy Stadium in Philadelphia.
With the win, Fordham improved to 4-6-1 overall, 1-1-0 in the Atlantic 10, while La Salle fell to 4-6-1, 0-1 in the league.
The Explorers wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the first minute. Greg Henry put a cross into the box from the near sideline, and found Joe Farrell for his fourth goal of the season, scoring to the upper right corner.
Fordham responded back in the fifth minute, when
Mike McNamara notched his first career goal off a skirmish in front, following a cross from
Andres Penfold at the near sideline.
The score remained knotted at one into the second half, when Fordham took its first lead of the game in the 52
nd minute.
Kyle Bitterman made a run down the sideline, crossing the ball to the far side of the box. Penfold was able to quickly control the ball and beat La Salle goalkeeper Mike Kirk to the lower left corner for his team-leading sixth goal of the season.
La Salle would put on some pressure over the next 25 minutes, but in each case, Fordham goalkeeper
Sean Brailey and the Rams' defense held off the Explorers' attack. The best chance came right after Fordham had scored in the 54
th minute. Brailey made three straight saves on shots by Pat Sullivan, Farrell, and John Ciarlante to keep Fordham ahead, 2-1. Later, Brailey made a diving save to the left post on a shot by Farrell in the 78
th minute.
Fordham then got an insurance marker in the 81
st minute, as off an Aleksander Mastilovic corner kick,
Christopher Bazzini was able to knock in his first collegiate goal off a scrum inside the box.
The Rams held on for the 3-1 win, as Brailey made a total of five saves in the game for the win.
The Fordham men's soccer team will next be in action on Sunday, October 12
th, when the Rams host Saint Joseph's for an Atlantic 10 contest at Jack Coffey Field with the start time set for 1:00 PM.
