A-10 CHAMPS!! Men’s Soccer Defeats URI for Second League Crown

Championship Celebration (courtesy of the Atlantic 10) | Loebe's Game-Winning Goal

Richmond, Va. – (November 16, 2014) – Behind yet another stellar defensive effort and a goal by freshman Jannik Loebe, the Fordham Rams captured their second-ever Atlantic 10 Championship on Sunday afternoon, defeating the top-seeded Rhode Island Rams, 1-0, at Sports Backer Stadium.
 
Fordham now advances to the NCAA Championship as the Atlantic 10's automatic bid.  It is Fordham's second trip to the tournament, having won the Atlantic 10 title back in 1996.
 
Fordham is the second team in tournament history to defeat the #1, #2, and #3 seeds to become champion, joining Xavier in 2010.  The Rams are also the third sixth-seed in the last five years to win the league crown.

After a scoreless first half, Fordham struck in the opening minute of the second off a long throw-in by Christopher Bazzini.  Bazzini's throw-in was picked up by fellow freshman Jannik Loebe, who quickly fired a shot from 12 yards out, beating URI goalkeeper Nils Leifhelm to the left side for the only goal of the game.

 

Rhode Island tried everything possible to get the equalizer, firing 14 shots at the Fordham net, but none of them were on target, as Fordham goalkeeper Sean Brailey posted his second shutout of the tournament without making a save.
 
Similar to the Rams' title in 1996, Fordham's goalkeeper was awarded the Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament, as Brailey had 13 saves and two shutouts over the three games.  Jim Grandinetti was the Most Outstanding Player for Fordham back in 1996.
 
In addition to Brailey, Fordham had four other players make the All-Championship team.  They were midfielder Aleksandar Mastilovic (2 assists in three games), Loebe (2 game-winning goals), Bazzini (2 team shutouts and game-winning assist in the title game), and Matthew Lewis (2 team shutouts).  
 
The Rams will now await their fate, as the NCAA Men's Soccer selection show is set for 1:00 PM on Monday, November 17^th on NCAA.com to decide the 48-team field.