Madison, Wisc. – (September 3, 2018) – Even with rainy conditions, a change in venue, and a two-goal deficit, the #15 Fordham men's soccer team would not be deterred on Monday, as for the second straight game the Rams found a way to win, getting an overtime goal from
Bart Dziedzic for a 3-2 win over the Northwestern Wildcats at Madison College in Wisconsin.
With the win, the Rams improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2006, while Northwestern is now 2-1.
"I am very proud of the team. We competed every second this weekend. We have areas to improve in, but the personality of the team and the leadership from our upperclassmen has been fantastic. Wisconsin and Northwestern are top programs with excellent coaching staffs, so to come away with two wins this weekend is a credit to our players," said head coach
Jim McElderry after the game.
The wild day for the Rams began early, as with constant rain since Friday night, Wisconsin's grass field was deemed unplayable, forcing both the Fordham-Northwestern and Wisconsin-Valparaiso games to be moved to Madison College's turf facility.
Northwestern opened the scoring in the 27
th minute, as Bardia Kimiavi netted his second goal of the season off an assist by Richie Bennett.
Despite Fordham having a number of corner kicks and a hefty edge in shots to try and tie the game at one, it was the Wildcats that scored the next goal to go up 2-0 in the 63
rd minute.
Bart Dziedzic is mobbed after his overtime winner.
The Rams then got the goal they needed to get back in the game. With a Northwestern defender having the ball,
Jack Sluys applied pressure, forcing the defender back into his own six-yard box. Sluys would cause a turnover and knock the ball into the goal for his first collegiate goal.
Fordham continued their second half offensive barrage and was rewarded with a tying goal in the 83
rd minute to level the score at two. On the rush,
Janos Loebe crossed the ball into the box to
Joergen Oland for the header goal, his first of the season.
In overtime, the Rams again scored on the rush in the 96
th minute, as Loebe found
Bart Dziedzic in the box for a deflection shot into the goal from 12 yards out for the game-winner. It was Dziedzic's first goal of the season.
In net, Fordham's
Rashid Nuhu ended the match with two saves, while Northwestern's Miha Miskovic had three. Following the conclusion of the Wisconsin Invitational, Loebe, Oland,
Andron Kagramanyan, and
Sindri Ingimarsson were selected to the All-Invitational Team.
The Fordham men's soccer team will next be in action on Saturday, September 8
th, when the Rams travel to Bryant for a 4:00 PM match.
