The Fordham women's soccer team looks to improve on a 2-0 start in league play on Thursday, when the Rams travel to Richmond for a match-up with the VCU Rams, who are also 2-0 in the Atlantic 10 this season.
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Twitter Updates @FordhamWSoccer SERIES HISTORY: This will be the fourth all-time meeting between Fordham and VCU since VCU joined the Atlantic 10 in 2012. VCU has taken all three prior match-ups, including the last two by 1-0 scores.
WIDMANN NAMED A-10 CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK: The Atlantic 10 conference announced its women's soccer weekly award winners on Monday, and Fordham midfielder
Jessica Widmann (East Meadow, N.Y.) was selected as the league's Co-Player of the Week for games through October 4
th. It is Widmann's first career weekly award.
Widmann, who shared the honor with VCU's Kailyn Slade, extended her point streak to five games, netting a goal and an assist in two conference games, as the Rams opened at 2-0 in league play for the first time since 2012. She started the week by netting her fourth game-winning goal of the season in Fordham's 1-0 win over Rhode Island on Thursday. She then assisted on the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory at Saint Joseph's on Sunday.
Overall, Widmann leads Fordham and the Atlantic 10 with career-highs in goals (8), points (18), and game-winning goals (4).
RAMS MOVE TO #8 IN NSCAA REGIONAL RANKINGS: Fresh off a 2-0 start to conference play, the Fordham women's soccer team moved up in the NSCAA Division I Women's Soccer Regional Rankings, it was released on Tuesday. The Rams leveled up two spots to #8 in Mid-Atlantic Region this week.
Fordham is currently 8-3-0 on the season, 2-0 in the Atlantic 10. The team's record through 11 games is a team-best mark, besting the previous record of 7-3-1 through 11 contests in 2003. The Rams are also 2-0 in Atlantic 10 action for the first time since 2012.
Princeton rates as the top-ranked team in the Mid-Atlantic region, followed by Northeastern, Hofstra, William & Mary, James Madison, Dartmouth, UNC-Wilmington, Fordham, George Washington, and Saint Louis.
Rachel Collage In addition to the regional rankings, Fordham continues to be in the top 50 in the NCAA team statistical leaders for shutout percentage (13th - .636), goals against average (32
nd – 0.63), and 32
nd in save percentage (32
nd - .860), while individually, Atlantic 10 co-Player of the Week
Jessica Widmann is in the top 40 in the country in goals (29
th), goals per game (27
th), points per game (36
th), and game-winning goals (9
th).
In the Atlantic 10, Fordham leads the league in goals against average, save percentage, and shutouts with Widmann holding down the top spot in goals, points, and game-winning goals.
LAST TIME OUT: Fordham's
Carlie Wagner scored in the 50
th minute, while
Megan Fitzgerald made four saves in goal, as the Rams topped the Saint Joseph's Hawks, 1-0, in women's soccer action in Philadelphia on Sunday.
The win gives Fordham their best-ever start through 11 games at 8-3-0, while also being the first time since 2012 that the Rams have begun Atlantic 10 play at 2-0. Fordham's previous best start through 11 contests was 7-3-1 in 2003.
The lone goal of the game came in the 50
th minute.
Jessica Widmann had the ball close to right post inside the Saint Joseph's box. She fed a pass to middle of the box where
Carlie Wagner found the open net for her second goal of the season.
Fordham would have to hold off a late Hawks' flurry in the 87
th minute to preserve the win. Off a scrum in front, Saint Joseph's Dakota Mills got off a point blank shot at goal that Fordham goalkeeper
Megan Fitzgerald was able to deflect away with a defender coming across for the clear.
Fitzgerald finished with four saves for her fifth shutout of the season, and the seventh shutout overall for Fordham. The seven shutouts for the Rams are tied for the fourth most in a single season in team history.
WHO'S NEXT: The Rams continue Atlantic 10 play on Sunday, October11th, when the Rams host St. Bonaventure at Jack Coffey Field, beginning at 1:00 PM.
