Women’s Soccer Starts Final Week of Regular Season vs. Davidson

The Fordham women's soccer team begins the final stretch of the regular season on Thursday night at Jack Coffey Field, when the Rams host the Davidson Wildcats, beginning at 7:00 PM.
 
The Rams head into the final week of the regular season in control of their own destiny with two games remaining.  One more win for the Rams will secure a spot in this year's Atlantic 10 Championship, which will be held next week at Davidson.  It would be the Rams' first trip to the Championship since 2009.
 
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SERIES HISTORY: This is the first-ever meeting between Fordham and Davidson.
 
MOVIN' UP: Fifth-year Fordham players Kristina Maksuti and Jessica Widmann have steadily climbed the Rams' all-time leaderboard this season.  With a goal in the last game, Maksuti moved into sole possession of fourth place on Fordham's career goals (23) and points (57) list, while being tied for eighth in career assists with 11.  Widmann scored her team-leading 11^th goal of the season as well in the last game, giving her 18 in her career, good for a tie for sixth place all-time in goals and assists (12), while being sixth in points (48).  Widmann is also closing in on the record for games started by a Ram with 70, just five behind all-time leader Laura Muzzatti (75 – 2004-07).
 
DEFENSIVE RECORDS IN SIGHT: Aside from Maksuti and Widmann's assault on the offensive record book, the Fordham defense and junior goalkeeper Megan Fitzgerald are also closing in on some big marks.  In the last game, Fordham recorded its ninth shutout of the season, tying the 2009 team record for shutouts in a season, and bringing the team's goals against average to 0.88, which is just shy of the 2007 school record of 0.84 for a season.  Individually, Fitzgerald is also one shutout shy of Shannon Misiaszek's single season mark of eight, set in 2001.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Fordham women's soccer team netted three first half goals, while Megan Fitzgerald made four saves, as the Rams shut out the Richmond Spiders, 3-0, at Robins Stadium in Richmond, Virginia.
 
With the win, Fordham improved to 11-6-0 overall, 5-3 in the Atlantic 10, while Richmond fell to 4-11-1 on the year, 2-5-1 in the conference.

 
Fordham got on the scoreboard in the 13^th minute on a set piece.  Ally Doyle took the free kick from the right side, which Kristina Maksuti headed to the far post for her sixth goal of the season.  The goal moved Maksuti into sole possession of fourth place on Fordham's all-time goals (23) and points (57) list.
 
Later in the 35^th minute, the Rams made it a 2-0 game.  Natalie Sims connected on a lob pass over the defenders to an oncoming Jessica Widmann on the left side, who scored her team-leading 11^th goal of the season from eight yards out to the far post.  Her 11 goals are now tied for the fourth-most in a single season by a Ram, joining Denise Corrado (1996) and Leah Jerome (2006).

Fordham then capped a superb first half with a third goal in the 42^nd minute.  Lane Cronin forced a turnover on the Richmond backline and scored her first collegiate goal from five yards out.
 
After making one stop in the first half, Fordham keeper Megan Fitzgerald was called upon to make three saves in the second half to complete the shutout.  It was Fitzgerald's seventh of the season, and the ninth overall for Fordham.  The nine shutouts tied the single season team record, set in 2009.
 
WHO'S NEXT: The Rams wrap up their regular season on Sunday, November 1^st, when George Mason comes to town for a 1:00 PM match.  Senior Day ceremonies are scheduled to be held prior to the match at approximately 12:40 PM.