In the first meeting between the two Jesuit institutions in 18 years, the Fordham men's soccer team gave head coach
Jim McElderry a game to remember as the Rams took on his alma mater, Fairfield, on Saturday night. The Rams scored a season-high three times, while
Rashid Nuhu made seven saves, as Fordham posted a 3-2 win over Fairfield.
The win was the first of the season for Fordham, improving to 1-3-2 on the year, while Fairfield fell to 1-2-3. The game marked the first time that McElderry faced off against his alma mater, after starring there as a player and serving as an assistant coach for ten years before taking the head coaching job at Fordham.
Fordham kicked off the scoring in the 28
th minute of the first half.
Janos Loebe took a corner kick that was headed into the goal by
Christopher Bazzini for his first goal of the season.
The score was still 1-0 Fordham entering the second half, when Fairfield had a chance to tie the game in the 53
rd minute. The Stags were awarded a penalty kick after a scrum in front of the net. Dominic Marshall took the penalty kick but was denied by Fordham goalkeeper
Rashid Nuhu to keep the Rams ahead by one.
Kyle Bitterman Fordham made it 2-0 in the 72
nd minute, once again off a corner kick.
Gabe Stauber started the action on the corner kick with
Matthew Lewis putting a shot wide of goal.
Eric Ohlendorf would pick up the loose ball and put in a cross from 25 yards out, which
Kyle Bitterman headed in for his first goal of the season.
Fairfield cut the Fordham lead in half in the 79
th minute, as Ben Wignall one-timed in a pass from Jonathan Uy past Nuhu.
The Rams regained their two-goal lead in the 84
th minute.
Janos Loebe got loose on a break out to create a 2-on-1 advantage for Fordham, which
Andres Penfold finished off following the cross from the left side by Loebe.
The Stags would go down fighting, scoring a late goal with 35 seconds left, but Fordham would hold on for the 3-2 win.
In goal, Nuhu made seven saves for the Rams, while Matt Turner had six for the Stags.
The Fordham men's soccer team will next be in action on Wednesday, September 23
rd as the Rams host Columbia at 7:00 PM on Jack Coffey Field.
