Women’s Soccer Wraps up Regular Season This Week

Bronx, N.Y. – (October 17, 2018) – After securing its spot in the Atlantic 10 Championship on Sunday, the Fordham women's soccer team looks to improve their seeding and earn a home match this week, as the Rams conclude the regular season with matches against Saint Joseph's and Duquesne.
 
Fordham (9-6-1, 6-1-1) clinched its spot in the Atlantic 10 Championship this past Sunday with a 1-0 win over La Salle.  Senior Brooke Salmon scored the game-winning goal on Senior Day, marking the third consecutive year that a Fordham senior has scored the game-winner on Senior Day.
 
In order to get that home match, the Rams go head-to-head with another team trying to stay home in the Saint Joseph's Hawks.  The Hawks (11-4-2, 6-2-0) are tied for fourth place with George Mason at 18 points, and just a point behind Fordham.  Offensively, Dakota Mills and Hannah Racis lead the Hawks with six goals each on the year, while in goal, Grace Bendon has seen all the action, posting a 0.86 goals against average and five shutouts.
 
For Sunday, Duquesne (5-8-2, 1-5-2) is still mathematically alive with two games left on its schedule.  The Dukes are in tenth place, five points behind Dayton for the final playoff spot.  Abby Losco leads the offense with three goals and three assists this year, while in goal Kyra Murphy has held down the starter spot, allowing 1.23 goals against average with five shutouts.
 
GAME COVERAGE:
Thursday – Saint Joseph's at Fordham – 7:00 PM ET – Live Video (ESPN+) | Live Video (International) | Live Stats | Follow on Twitter @FordhamWSoccer
 
Sunday – Fordham at Duquesne – 1:00 PM ET – Live Video (ESPN+)  | Live Video (International) | Live Stats | Follow on Twitter @FordhamWSoccer
 
SERIES HISTORY: This will be the 23^rd all-time meeting between the Rams and the Hawks with Fordham holding the series lead at 10-7-5.  The Hawks cut into that series lead last season with a 2-1 double overtime win in Philadelphia.  Fordham's last win over Saint Joseph's came in 2015.
 
On Sunday, it will be the 20^th all-time match-up with Fordham and Duquesne.  The Rams again have the slight edge in the series at 9-7-3, but fell in the match last season to the Dukes by a 1-0 score at Jack Coffey Field.  The Rams' last win over Duquesne was in 2013 in Pittsburgh.
 
CANCER AWARENESS WEEK: New York Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital's Cancer Center, located in Bronxville, is proud to partner with Fordham Athletics this year in the fight against cancer. With the NYP Lawrence Hospital Cancer Center team, patients receive the benefits of personalized care in their own community setting, near home and family, with the support and expertise of a major academic medical center. The Center offers cancer prevention, screening, treatment including access to clinical trials, support, and education.
 
NYP Lawrence Hospital opened its state-of-the-art cancer facility in October 2016 and is dedicated to addressing both the physical and emotional wellbeing of each patient. This unique under-one-roof philosophy affords patients true convenience by offering medical, surgical, and radiation oncology all in one location, and allows for ease of collaboration and communication among physicians. Many of the specialists at NYP Lawrence are members of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at NewYork- Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center —one of only three National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in New York state.
 
SALMON HITS MILESTONE: With her start on Senior Day, Fordham senior defender Brooke Salmon hit a personal milestone, starting her 75^th career game, and playing in her 77^th.  Her start tied the Fordham record for most career starts, which is held by Laura Muzzati (2004-07) and Jessica Widmann (2011-15).  For career games played, her 77 games is tied for sixth all-time at Fordham, just two behind the all-time mark of 79, held by Natalie Sims (2014-17) and Mariella Romano (2008-11).

 
LAST TIME OUT: Behind a second half goal by Brooke Salmon, the Fordham women's soccer team clinched an Atlantic 10 Championship berth with a 1-0 win over the La Salle Explorers on Sunday afternoon at Jack Coffey Field.
 
After honoring its senior class prior to the game, members of Fordham's senior class showed their appreciation by making the play that put the Rams back into the Atlantic 10 Championship for the first time since 2016.  After being awarded a corner kick, senior Lane Cronin lifted the corner kick into the box, where Brooke Salmon bounced a header inside the left post for her second goal of the season.

After the goal, La Salle put on the press to get the equalizer, but the Rams stepped up and kept the clean sheet intact.  Fordham goalkeeper Kelly LaMorte was credited with two saves in the game for her eighth shutout of the season.
 
With Salmon's goal, it marked the third consecutive year that a senior has scored the game-winning goal on Senior Day at Fordham, joining Carlie Wagner (2017) and Ally Doyle (2016). 

WHO'S NEXT: After this week's matches, the Rams will wait and see whether or not they will be at home or on the road for the Atlantic 10 Championship quarterfinals.  The quarterfinal match will be either October 27^th or 28^th.