Bronx, N.Y. – (October 10, 2018) – Unbeaten in its last eight games, the Fordham women's soccer team has two crucial Atlantic 10 matches this week, as the Rams inch closer to an Atlantic 10 playoff berth with just four games left in the regular season.
 
Fordham (8-5-1, 5-0-1) stayed without a loss in Atlantic 10 action after a draw with Massachusetts and a win at St. Bonaventure last week.  The Rams will have another first place match-up to start this week, as Fordham is at Saint Louis (11-3-1, 6-0) on Thursday night.  The Billikens have won seven straight matches and are 7-0-1 at home this season.  Saint Louis is led by Hannah Friedrich, who leads the team in scoring with 21 points on seven goals and seven assists, and Alyssa Seitzer, who has a team-high nine goals on the year.
 
On Sunday, Fordham hosts La Salle (8-4-1, 3-3) and will celebrate Senior Day, honoring the team's six seniors: Brooklyn Gonzalez, Keri Villano, Colleen Hickey, Brooke Salmon, Clara Gastaldi, and Lane Cronin.  The Explorers have rebounded with a pair of wins after a 1-3 start in conference play, and take on Dayton on Thursday.  La Salle is led by Madison Bower (8 G, 3 A) and Molly O'Brien (7 G, 5 A), who are tied for the team lead in scoring with 19 points.
 
GAME COVERAGE:
Thursday – Fordham at Saint Louis – 8:00 PM ET – Live Video (ESPN+) | Live Stats | Follow on Twitter @FordhamWSoccer
 
Sunday – La Salle at Fordham – 1:00 PM ET – Live Video (ESPN+) | Live Video (International) | Live Stats | Follow on Twitter @FordhamWSoccer

SERIES HISTORY: This will be the ninth meeting between the Rams and the Billikens with each team holding four wins over the other.  All wins have been at the home team's field.  Last season, Fordham topped Saint Louis, 2-0, on Senior Day with Clara Gastaldi having a goal and an assist in the game, while Carlie Wagner had the other goal.
 
On Sunday, it will be the 21^st all-time match-up with Fordham and La Salle.  The Explorers hold a slight lead in the series at 10-8-2.  La Salle has won the last four meetings between the teams, including a 1-0 win last season at La Salle.  Fordham's last win over the Explorers came in 2009.
 
RECORD HUNTING: Having already tied the school record for consecutive wins during the current unbeaten streak, the Rams are within reach of a pair of program marks this week.  Fordham is unbeaten in its last eight games at 7-0-1 and with the longest streak of that nature being nine games (7-0-2).  The Rams, who are 5-0-1 in Atlantic 10 play, are also a win away from having their best start to conference play through seven games, as Fordham was 5-0-2 to begin conference play in 2003.
 
FORDHAM SOCCER HONORED BY UNITED SOCCER COACHES (10/6): United Soccer Coaches announced its Team Academic Award winners for the 2017-18 academic year.  Among those honored were both the Fordham men's and women's soccer teams for the ninth consecutive year. 

Fordham was one of 198 schools to have both of its soccer programs receive the Team Academic Award.  From a conference perspective, 14 Atlantic 10 soccer programs were honored, as well as six institutions having both been listed.  VCU had the top GPA among Atlantic 10 women's soccer teams with Fordham in second, while Fordham's men's team was top among Atlantic 10 programs.
 
LAST TIME OUT: For the second straight Sunday, Fordham's Lane Cronin scored the game-winning goal, while Kelly LaMorte and the Fordham defense posted a shutout, as the Rams downed the St. Bonaventure Bonnies, 1-0, at the Marra Athletic Complex in St. Bonaventure, N.Y., last Sunday.

The lone goal of the contest came just before halftime in the 43^rd minute.  Morgan Busacca took a corner kick, getting the ball in the box, which Milan Bornstein chipped back toward goal.  Lane Cronin then knocked the ball in, right on the doorstep for her third goal of the year.
 
The Rams were extremely stingy, giving up only two shots on the game with just one on goal.  The one shot was stopped by LaMorte for her only save of the contest.  It was her seventh shutout of year, more than doubling her total from a season ago.
 
WHO'S NEXT: Following these two matches, the Rams wrap up the regular season with a home match against Saint Joseph's on Thursday, October 18^th, at 7:00 PM, while traveling to Duquesne on Sunday, October 21^st for a 1:00 PM match.