Bronx, N.Y. – Staring at a possible third consecutive overtime game, Fordham sophomore
Lane Cronin eliminated those thoughts with a goal in the 86
th minute, giving Fordham the 1-0 win over the VCU Rams at Jack Coffey Field on Thursday night.
With the win, Fordham improved to 6-3-3 overall, 1-0-2 in the Atlantic 10, while VCU moved to 5-6-1 on the year, 1-2-0 in the league.
After a scoreless first half, the two teams got some good scoring chances in the early minutes of the second half. First, it was a singular effort by Fordham freshman
Amanda Miller in the 50
th minute, as she fought off a VCU defender and popped the ball over the VCU goalkeeper. Miller tried to knock the loose ball in, but VCU defender Brittany Beckwith knocked the ball away at the right post for a defender save.
At the other end, VCU's Julia Suarez tested Fordham goalkeeper
Megan Fitzgerald from about 25 yards out, but Fitzgerald smothered the ball for a save in the 54
th minute.
Fordham had another chance on a good set of passes in the 57
th minute. Miller had a cross into the box from the right side to
Clara Gastaldi for a mid-air one-timer, but Gastaldi's shot sailed just over the crossbar.
Megan Fitzgerald made three saves for her first shutout of the season on Thursday.
The scoreless game lasted into the 86
th minute, when Fordham finally broke through.
Lane Cronin started the play with a run upfield, dishing the ball to the right to an oncoming
Nicol Natale. Natale crossed the ball back to Cronin just inside the box for a shot that hit the left post and went in for her second goal of the season.
Fordham was able to fend off VCU in the final minutes to hold on for the 1-0 victory.
In net, Fitzgerald made three saves for her first shutout of the season and the 11
th of her career, which moved her into third place on Fordham's all-time shutouts list. Audrey Sanderson had three stops for VCU.
The Fordham women's soccer team will next be in action on Sunday, October 9
th, when the Rams travel to St. Bonaventure for a 1:00 PM match.
