Men's Soccer Falls to Rider in Home Opener

Bronx, N.Y. – The Fordham men's soccer team fell in its home opener against Rider, 2-0, in a tightly contested and contentious affair at Jack Coffey Field. With the loss, the Rams fall to 0-2-1 on the season, while the Broncs improve to 1-1.
 
Saturday evening's match featured 41 total fouls, seven cards, including one red card, and a 13-8 shot advantage in favor of the hosts, but a goal on either side of halftime for Rider proved to be the difference. A combination of Broncs keeper Pablo Gatinois and the post kept Bart Dziedzic off of the scoresheet, with the senior captain tallying a match-high four shots.
 
Dziedzic had the match's first real chance when, in the 18^th minute, a pinpoint cross from the right flank found the senior in the middle of the box but his effort was saved at point blank range by Gatinois, one his seven shots on the night. Rider struck 10 minutes later when a lofted cross by Mathis Catanzaro found Pablo DeCastro to slot into the corner. Less than two minutes later and Dziedzic had another chance, this time his fierce effort was denied by the right post. Two yellow cards came in the final six minutes of the first half for Rider as they tried to slow down Fordham's attack.
 
Johannes Pieles saw a clear chance go just wide right after being played in free in the box in the 61^st minute. Gatinois made a big double save on shots by Dziedzic and Andron Kagramanyan in the 64^th minute and just a minute later, Rider had doubled its advantage. Catanzaro rifled a low cross into the box, finding Clement Bourret, who finished past Konstantin Weis. The final 25 minutes saw three yellow cards, two for the Rams, and a straight red on Sylvain Coco after a confrontation with Pieles.
 
The Rams had seven shots on goal to Rider's four and held the advantage on corner kicks, as well, 6-3. The Broncs committed three more fouls, 22-19.
 
Fordham returns to the road to face Villanova on Tuesday afternoon, September 10, at 4 p.m., before returning to the Bronx to host Holy Cross next Saturday night at 5 p.m.