In recent years, the annual Battle of the Bronx between Fordham and Manhattan has brought a lot of late game drama, earning wins for both sides. On Friday, the drama was taken out of the 23
rd edition of the crosstown rivalry early as a pair of first half goals gave Fordham the 2-0 shutout win over the Jaspers at Gaelic Park.
With the win, Fordham improved to 2-1-0, while the Jaspers fell to 1-1-0.
The Rams cracked the scoreboard in the 24
th minute, as
Nicol Natale's initial shot was stopped by Manhattan goalkeeper Kristen Skonieczny. However, the rebound deflected to Fordham's
Carlie Wagner, who put home her first career goal just inside the post.
Nicol Natale Just eight minutes later, Fordham made it a 2-0 game with Natale right in the thick of things again. Natale put a cross in from 15 yards out, finding
Jessica Widmann, who headed in her second goal of the season into the lower right corner.
Fordham held the Jaspers in check for most of the match, allowing just two shots on goal, both of which
Megan Fitzgerald handled to record her second shutout of the season, and third of her career.
The Fordham women's soccer team will next be in action on Sunday, August 30
th, as the Rams have their home opener against Princeton University, beginning at 1:00 PM on Jack Coffey Field.
