Women’s Soccer Finishes Season Opening Road Swing This Weekend

Bronx, N.Y. – (August 23, 2018) – After the team's upset bid at #5 South Carolina fell short, the Fordham women's soccer team looks to get in the win column this weekend with a pair of road contests to wrap up the season opening three-match road swing.  The Rams kick off the weekend on Friday at Holy Cross for a 5:00 PM start, followed by a local showdown at Columbia on Sunday at 2:00 PM.
 
GAME COVERAGE:
Friday - Fordham at Holy Cross – 5:00 PM ET – Live Video (Watch Stadium/PLN) | Live Stats | Follow on Twitter @FordhamWSoccer
 
Sunday - Fordham at Columbia – 2:00 PM ET – Live Video (ESPN+) | Live Stats | Follow on Twitter @FordhamWSoccer
 
SERIES HISTORY: This is the fourth all-time meeting between Fordham and Holy Cross with the Crusaders holding a 2-0-1 edge in the previous three contests.  The two squads played to a scoreless draw last season at Jack Coffey Field in a heavy rain for a good portion of the contest.  Prior to that, the other two matches were when both schools were members of the Patriot League (1993 & 1994).
 
For Fordham and Columbia, this will be the 18^th all-time meeting between the two New York based schools.  The Lions hold a slight edge on the Rams with a 10-7-0 mark, however, Fordham has won each of the last two meetings, a 2-0 win at Jack Coffey Field last season, and a 1-0 win at Commisso Soccer Stadium.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The 2018 Fordham women's soccer season got underway on Friday night, as the Rams matched up with the fifth-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks at Stone Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. With a valiant defensive effort, the Rams put together a quality 90 minutes, but a first half goal by the Gamecocks held up for a 1-0 victory.
 
The lone goal of the game came in the 27^th minute, as Fordham's Kendall Dandridge got tangled up with a South Carolina player down the left side of the field, with a foul being called.  Selma Sol Magnusdottir took the free kick, finding the head of Riley Tanner five yards out for her first of the season.

 
Fordham had its first scoring chance in the 41^st minute, as Milan Bornstein got a clean look at goal with a shot from just outside the left side of the box, but South Carolina keeper Mika  Krzeczowski was able to get across for the catch save.
 
South Carolina put pressure on Fordham right out of the gate in the second half to try and get a second goal.  The Gamecocks registered four corners kicks in the first 12 minutes of the period, however the Fordham defense was up to the task, and did not allow that second goal.
 
Fordham's offensive chances were few, but the Rams would have their best look in the final moments of the game.  Maura Holst collected a cross inside the left side of the box, and put a ball back across to the right side.  The South Carolina backup goalkeeper Alexis McMullen made a diving punch to clear that final opportunity, securing the clean sheet.
 
In net, Fordham's Kelly LaMorte finished the night with three saves, while Krzeczowski has two stops. 

PRESEASON POLL & AWARDS: With the regular season set to open this week, the Atlantic 10 Conference announced its preseason coaches' poll and All-Conference team for women's soccer this afternoon.
 
Saint Louis took the top spot in the poll with 10 first place votes, followed by La Salle, who received four first place votes.  George Mason and Duquesne tied for third in the voting, followed by VCU, Saint Joseph's, Dayton, George Washington, Fordham, Massachusetts, Richmond, St. Bonaventure, Davidson, and Rhode Island.
 
The top eight teams in the conference will advance to the 2018 Atlantic 10 Championship at the end of the season with opening round games at campus sites.  The semifinals and final then move to Dayton's Baujan Field on November 2-4.
 
EXHIBITION ACTION: The Rams played two exhibition contest during the preseason, falling to Albany and Stony Brook, both by 1-0 scores.

WHO'S NEXT: Following this weekend, the Rams will have their 2018 home opener on Thursday, August 30^th, when they host Hofstra for a 7:00 PM contest, followed by a road contest at Lehigh on Sunday, September 2^nd at 1:00 PM.