West Hartford, Conn. – It was a touch of déjà vu for the Fordham women's soccer team on Sunday, as for the second straight game, both
Nicole Bates and
Margaret Roughley scored goals for the Rams. And just like Thursday, Fordham walked away with a win, defeating the Hartford Hawks, 2-1, at Al-Marzook Field.
The win was the fourth straight for the Rams, as they improved to 5-1-1 on the season, while Hartford moved to 5-2-0.
Hartford was poised to net the opening goal of the game in the 29
th minute, as Julia Carr took a strike from the top of the box, head for the left side of goal. Fordham goalkeeper
Megan Fitzgerald made a diving stop on Carr, pushing the shot just wide of the post to keep the game scoreless.
Margaret Roughley scored for the third straight game on Sunday.
Fordham then capitalized on a great individual effort by freshman
Margaret Roughley in the 42
nd minute.
Brianna Blunck started the play with a long ball ahead to Roughley near the top of the box. Roughley one-touched the ball around Hartford goalkeeper, but a defender made a slide tackle to stop an initial shot at goal. Roughley recovered the ball near the endline for a second opportunity, and she snuck the ball just over the line for her third goal of the season.
The Rams made it 2-0 on a set piece in the 53
rd minute.
Brooke Salmon took a corner kick that found the head of
Nicole Bates. Her header was blocked to the ground, where in a scramble, Bates backheeled the ball between a number of Hartford legs for her second goal of the season.
Hartford would cut the lead to 2-1 in the 68
th minute on a give-and-go goal by Aaliyah Ingram, but the Fordham defense held up for the 2-1 win. The goal by Hartford was the first allowed by the Rams in over 380 minutes of action.
Fitzgerald earned her first win of the year, making one save, while Hartford goalkeeper Jessica Jurg also made one save.
