Women’s Soccer Opens Home Schedule This Week

Bronx, N.Y. – (September 5, 2019) – Following four road matches to start the 2019 season, the Fordham women's soccer team will play host to its first home games of the year this week at Jack Coffey Field.  In Thursday, the Rams face off with the Columbia Lions at 7:00 PM, with a Sunday showdown against Lehigh at 1:00 PM.
 
Columbia opened their season last week, posting a 2-2 draw with Colgate, while falling to #11 Tennessee, 3-0.  Lehigh has an 0-2-2 record, with a 2-1 overtime loss to Duquesne in their last match.
 
GAME COVERAGE:
Thursday – Columbia at Fordham – 7:00 PM ET – Live Video (ESPN+) | Live Stats
 
Sunday – Lehigh at Fordham – 1:00 PM ET – Live Video (ESPN+) | Live Stats
 
SERIES HISTORY: On Thursday, it will be the 19^th all-time meeting between Fordham and Columbia.  The Lions hold an 11-7-0 edge in the series.  Columbia snapped a two-game win streak by the Rams last season with a 3-0 decision at Columbia.
 
In the second match of the week, it will be the fourth meeting for Lehigh and Fordham.  The Mountainhawks won the first two in the early 1990's when the teams were both in the Patriot League, while Fordham won last year's game in Bethlehem, 1-0, on a goal by Maura Holst.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA: For the latest updates and behind the scenes look at the Fordham women's soccer program, make sure to follow them on Twitter and Instagram at @FordhamWoSoc.
 
RECRUITING CLASS EARNS ACCOLADES FROM TOP DRAWER SOCCER: The Rams received recruiting class accolades from Top Drawer Soccer for the team's current crop of freshmen.  Overall, the recruiting class came in at #49, one of two Atlantic 10 teams to crack the top 50.  Additionally, freshman Danielle Etienne, who was rated No. 76 on their top 100 recruit list, was also a part of Top Drawer Soccer's list of "Impact Freshman to Watch", where the rest of the list comes from "Power 5" conferences or teams receiving votes for the Top 25.
 
Link to D1 recruiting class rankings | Impact Freshmen for 2019
 
RAMS WIN THE BATTLE OF THE BRONX FOR THE SIXTH STRAIGHT TIME (8/29): After a number of scoring chances over the first 79 minutes, Fordham's Kristen Cocozza would break a scoreless tie with her first career goal, giving Fordham a 1-0 win over the Manhattan Jaspers in the annual "Battle of the Bronx" at Gaelic Park.

The Rams outshot Manhattan 14-3 in the first half, but none would crack the scoreboard, as Manhattan keeper Camryn Nici finished the frame with six saves.

 
It wasn't until the 80^th minute, when the Rams broke through with the lone goal of the game.  Morgan Busacca played a ball into the box from the right side, which deflected off Margaret Roughley in front to Kristen Cocozza, who knocked it home for her first collegiate goal.
 
The Jaspers would have a final scoring chance in the final minute, as a long ball was put on goal by Gemma Perez and punched away by Fordham goalkeeper Kelly LaMorte.  Another shot would be blocked giving a corner kick to the Jaspers.  However, the corner kick was cleared giving Fordham its' sixth straight win in the "Battle of the Bronx."
 
LaMorte finished with three saves in goal to record her first shutout of the season, the 11^th of her career, moving her into fourth place on Fordham's career shutout list.   
 
TOP NOTCH: The Rams have put together a challenging schedule for 2019, which features three games against teams from the "Power 5" conferences in Tennessee (SEC), Rutgers (BIG 10), and Syracuse (ACC).  This is first time since 2012 that Fordham has seen a non-conference slate like this, when the Rams faced Michigan (BIG 10), Michigan State (BIG 10), and Maryland (ACC).
 
WHO'S NEXT: Following Sunday's game, Fordham returns to the road for a three-match swing, which begins at Yale on September 12^th with matches at Syracuse on September 15^th and Stony Brook on September 19^th.