Women’s Soccer Looks To Stay on Track Against Iona and Hartford This Week

After back-to-back shutout victories last week, the Fordham women's soccer team looks to continue its winning ways this week with match-ups against Iona and Hartford.   The Rams (3-1-1) host the Gaels on Thursday night at Jack Coffey Field, while traveling to Hartford on Sunday afternoon.
 
GAME COVERAGE:
 
Thursday – Iona at Fordham – 7:00 PM – Live Stats | Live Video (Free) | Follow on Twitter @FordhamWSoccer

Sunday – Fordham at Hartford – 1:00 PM – Live Stats | Live Video (Free) | Follow on Twitter @FordhamWSoccer
 
SERIES HISTORY: Against Iona, Fordham holds an 11-3 edge in the all-time series with the last meeting coming in 2014 in New Rochelle.  The Rams won that game, 1-0, and have won each of the last six meetings by that same score of 1-0.
 
For Hartford, this will only be the second all-time meeting between the Hawks and Rams.  The only previous meeting came in 2002 at the UConn Classic in Storrs, Connecticut, where Hartford took down the Rams by an 8-0 score.
 
LAST TIME OUT (9/4): Sunday was a complete game effort for the Fordham women's soccer team, getting three goals on offense and allowing just one shot on defense, as the Rams won the annual Battle of the Bronx over Manhattan College, 3-0, at Jack Coffey Field.

 
The Rams wasted no time getting on the board in the second minute of action.  Brooke Salmon crossed a ball from the left side of the box, which deflected off a diving Manhattan goalkeeper Olivia Printy, right to Nicol Natale.  Natale then calmly put the ball into the back of the net for her first tally of the season, and the sixth of her career.
 
Fordham made it 2-0 in the 19^th minute, when Margaret Roughley netted her first career goal.  Off a deflection, Natalie Sims corralled the ball on the right side and played the ball forward to Carlie Wagner for an immediate cross into the box.  The cross found Roughley for a header that scored inside the left post for a two-goal lead.
 
The Rams capped off the victory in the 76^th minute with their third goal of the afternoon.  On a breakout, Roughley flicked a head pass to Turner Block, streaking toward goal, just outside the box.  Block fended off a Manhattan defender and scored inside the right post from 15 yards out for her first career goal.
 
The three-goal effort was more than enough for the Rams' defense that was very stingy, allowing just one shot in the game.  Fordham goalkeepers Adaeze Obinelo (83 minutes) and Colleen Hickey (seven minutes) kept the sheet clean, along with a superb effort from the senior quartet of defenders, Ally Doyle, Nicole Bates, Brianna Blunck, and Rachel Myers, and junior Rachel Collage.
 
WHO'S NEXT: Following this weekend's action, Fordham is off during the week before returning to action on Sunday, September 18^th, when the Rams host Hofstra at 1:00 PM on Jack Coffey Field.