Photo GalleryBronx, N.Y. - Fordham's
Janos Loebe scored the only goal of the game in the 74
th minute, while the Fordham defense held the 21
st-ranked Columbia Lions' offense in check, as the Rams pulled off the 1-0 upset at Jack Coffey Field on Wednesday night.
With the win, Fordham is now unbeaten in its last four games, improving to 2-3-2 on the season, while Columbia took its first loss of the year and now stand at 4-1-0. It is Fordham's first win over a ranked opponent since September 9, 2012, when the Rams defeated then-#22 Brown, 1-0.
The only goal of the contest came in the 74
th minute, as
Ryan Cupolo controlled the ball at midfield passing ahead toward
Tommy Granot on the left side of the field, about 30 yards from goal. Granot and a Columbia defender both kicked at the ball with it glancing off the back heel of the Lions player.
Janos Loebe quickly swooped in on the loose ball and from a sharp angle, snuck a shot from 12 yards out between the goalkeeper and left post for his second goal of the season.
Loebe almost made it 2-0 just four minutes later, as he caught the keeper out of the goal, but Columbia's Bryce Terrill made the defender save on the shot to keep it a one-goal game.
The Rams celebrate their first win over a ranked opponent since 2012. Over the final 15 minutes of play, Fordham goalkeeper
Rashid Nuhu and the Rams' defense were able to hold strong for the shutout. Though the chances weren't saves, Nuhu made catches off two corner kicks late, while also making a sliding grab on a breakaway pass to avert another scoring opportunity.
Nuhu finished with one save for his first career shutout, while Columbia's Kyle Jackson had two saves.
The Fordham men's soccer team will next be in action on Saturday, September 26
th, as the Rams host NJIT at 7:00 PM on Jack Coffey Field.
