The Fordham women's soccer team will be in a "New York State of Mind" this weekend, as the Rams travel to Columbia and Hofstra and look to extend their current three-game win streak.
Thus far, Fordham is 3-0 against New York Area teams, having already beaten Wagner, Manhattan, and LIU-Brooklyn this season.
LIVE COVERAGE: Friday at Columbia – 6 PM –
Live Video (Ivy League Network) |
Live Stats |
Twitter Updates @FordhamWSoccer Friday at Hofstra – 2 PM –
Live Video |
Hofstra Audio |
Live Stats |
Twitter Updates @FordhamWSoccer SERIES HISTORY: This will be the 16
th meeting between Fordham and Columbia on Friday with the Lions holding a 10-5-0 mark against the Rams. Last season in the Bronx, Columbia pulled out a 2-1 win over Fordham behind a pair of goals from Madeline Linde.
Ivana Lahcanski had the Fordham goal in that game.
On Sunday, it'll be the 14
th all-time meeting for the Rams and the Pride. Hofstra holds a 10-2-1 mark against Fordham with the last meeting being a 4-1 win by Hofstra in 2010. Fordham's last win in the series came in 2004.
RAMS MOVE UP IN THE REGIONAL RANKINGS: For the second straight week, the Fordham women's soccer team is among the NSCAA Division I Women's Soccer Regional Rankings, it was released on Tuesday. After entering last week at #9, the Rams moved up to fourth in Mid-Atlantic Region this week.
William & Mary remains the top-ranked team in the Mid-Atlantic region, followed by Northeastern, Dartmouth, Fordham, Drexel, Saint Joseph's, Duquesne, Lafayette, Hofstra, and James Madison.
In addition to the regional rankings, Fordham has also worked its way into the top 35 in the NCAA team statistical leaders for save percentage (25
th - .882), shutout percentage (32
nd - .571), and goals against average (34
th – 0.57), while individually
Kate McDonnell is tied for 27
th in the country with four assists this season.
LAST TIME OUT: The Fordham women's soccer team made it three wins in a row on Sunday afternoon at Jack Coffey Field, as
Kristina Maksuti's game-winning goal in the 61
st minute gave the Rams a 2-1 victory over the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds.
Kristina Maksuti lines up the game-winning goal on Sunday against LIU. The Rams put forth an offensive barrage against LIU Brooklyn goalkeeper Erin Harbison, putting 15 shots toward goal in the first half. Harbison had six saves in the first half, but let one go by as Fordham took a 1-0 lead in the 25
th minute.
Having just subbed into the game,
Lane Cronin went on the attack on the right side of the box. She crossed the ball along the top of the box that
Jessica Widmann shot and scored on from 17 yards out inside the right post. It was Widmann's team-leading fifth goal of the season.
LIU-Brooklyn tied the game in the 60
th minute, but the tie score didn't last long, as Fordham regained the lead just 1:04 later.
Nicol Natale streaked down the right side of the field and put a cross into the box toward
Kristina Maksuti. Maksuti corralled the ball quickly and scored from 15 yards out inside the right post for her third goal of the season.
Fordham allowed just one shot on net following the Maksuti goal, which was handled by Fitzgerald in the 73
rd minute to secure the 2-1 win.
Fordham totaled 27 shots in the game, which is the most for the Rams since having 28 at Temple in 2012. Also, the goal by Maksuti made her just the sixth Ram to reach 20 career goals and moved her into sixth place on Fordham's all-time scoring list with 49 points, breaking a tie with Beth Purcell (47 points - 2001-04). In goal, Fitzgerald made five saves to earn her fourth win of the season, while Harbison had 13 stops for the Blackbirds.
WHO'S NEXT: The Rams' next game won't be until October 1
st when Fordham begins Atlantic 10 action against Rhode Island at Jack Coffey Field.
