Men’s Soccer Tops George Mason, 3-1, on Senior Night

Bronx, N.Y. – (October 26, 2019) – Playing in their final regular season home match, the Fordham men's soccer graduating class made it a special one as graduate student Filippo Ricupati scored twice with senior Johannes Pieles also adding a goal, as the Rams took home a 3-1 win over the George Mason Patriots at Jack Coffey Field on Saturday.
 
With the win, Fordham improved to 4-2-1 in the Atlantic 10, clinching a berth in the Atlantic 10 Championship, and moved to 5-9-2 overall.  George Mason fell to 4-11-1 overall, 3-4-0 in the league.
 
Fordham wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in the eighth minute of action, as the Rams peppered George Mason goalkeeper Brison Moorhead early and often.  Jack Sluys played the ball in to Sameer Fathazada near the penalty spot.  Fathazada headed the ball down to Filippo Ricupati, who tucked a shot inside the left post for his fourth goal of the season.
 
The Rams continue to pour on the offense, getting a two-goal lead in the 32^nd minute.   Joergen Oland won a challenged near the sideline and made a run of 20 yards, launching a cross into the box.  Johannes Pieles got on the end of that cross at the top of the six-yard box and deflected it into the net for his second marker of the year.
 
Fordham ended the first half with the 2-0 lead and a 15-1 edge in shots with Moorhead having to come up with six saves in the period to keep the Patriots in the game.
 
The match remained at 2-0 until the 79^th minute, when George Mason scored on a set piece.  Daniel Damiani put a free kick into the box from about 30 yards out that glanced off the head of Mads Tranberg and into the net for his first goal of the season.
 
The Rams though sealed the game away with a goal in the 82^nd minute for a 3-1 final.  Fathazada picked up a loose ball at the top of the 18-yard box and laid the ball off to Ricupati for a shot just inside the left post for his second goal of the game and his fifth of the year.
 
In goal, Konstantin Weis recorded four saves in the win, while Moorhead had seven in the loss for the Patriots.
 
The Fordham men's soccer team will next be in action on Tuesday, October 29^th, when the Rams head across town to face the Columbia Lions for a 7:00 PM match.