Women’s Soccer Advances to A-10 Semifinal with 1-0 Win over VCU

Davidson, N.C. - (November 5, 2020) - It took six years for the Fordham Rams to get back into the Atlantic 10 Women's Soccer Championship, and the team wasn't satisfied with just making the tournament on Thursday.  The Rams got a goal from Brooke Salmon in the first half, while the Fordham defense allowed just two shots on goal, as the Rams topped VCU, 1-0 in the A-10 quarterfinals, held at Davidson's Alumni Soccer Stadium.
 
With the win, Fordham improved to 13-6-1 on the season, while VCU ended their season at 8-9-3.  It marked Fordham's first-ever win over VCU in five all-time meetings, and marks the fifth consecutive appearance that Fordham has made it to the Atlantic 10 semifinals (2006-09, 2015).
 
Fordham had the initial shot of the game in tight, when Jessica Widmann found Ivana Lahcanski for a shot from the left side that was blocked by a VCU defender.  VCU's first chance came on back-to-back chances for Julia Suarez and Kelly Graves in the 10^th minute, but Fordham goalkeeper Megan Fitzgerald.
 
Fordham then found back of the net in the 15^th minute, as Natalie Sims dribbled the ball to the left side, and fed a pass to an oncoming Brooke Salmon.  Salmon then hammered home her first collegiate goal into the lower left corner of the net from 20 yards out.

 
VCU just missed tying the game in the 34^th minute, as a shot from Sharon Wojcik grazed the top of the crossbar, leaving Fordham up by one at the half.
 
Fordham almost made it a two-goal game in the second half in the 64^th minute, as Widmann went on a break, getting around a VCU defender in the box.  Her shot from 12 yards though was stopped by the fingertips of VCU goalkeeper Emma Kruse.
 
Fordham's defense held strong, giving up only two shots over the final 26 minutes, neither of which were on goal, to complete the shutout win and advance Friday's semifinal.
 

In goal, Fitzgerald made two saves for her ninth shutout of the season, breaking the single season record of eight, held by Shannon Misiaszek in 2001.
 
The Fordham women's soccer team will now be in action on Friday, November 6^th, when the Rams take on the George Mason Patriots at 5:00 PM in the first Atlantic 10 semifinal at Davidson's Alumni Soccer Stadium.