Bronx, N.Y. – (March 23, 2021) – Following a win over Saint Francis on Saturday, the Fordham men's soccer team turns its attention to league action with two conference match-ups this week against Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Fordham (2-0-0) will first head to Amherst on Wednesday night for a 7:00 PM match against the Minutemen on Wednesday night. Massachusetts has gotten off to almost a perfect start, going 5-0-1 this spring with a 1-0-1 Atlantic 10 mark. Most recently, they topped Rhode Island, 5-2on March 20
th.
Then on Saturday, it will be the Battle of the Rams, when Fordham hosts Rhode Island for a 3:00 PM match on Jack Coffey Field. Rhode Island is 1-2 on the year with an 0-1 mark in the Atlantic 10.
GAME COVERAGE:
Wednesday – Fordham at Massachusetts – 7:00 PM //
Live Stats | Follow on Twitter/InstaGram/Facebook - @FordhamSoccer
Saturday – Rhode Island at Fordham – 3:00 PM –
Live Video (ESPN3) |
Live Stats | Follow on Twitter/InstaGram/Facebook - @FordhamSoccer
SERIES HISTORY: For Fordham and Massachusetts, this will be the first of two meetings this spring, as they will also play on April 3
rd in the Bronx. The Minutemen hold a 16-9-0 record against Fordham, but it was the Rams that came out on top in the last meeting in 2019 by a 1-0 score on a goal from
Sameer Fathazada.
On Saturday, it is the lone match between Fordham and Rhode Island, with URI holding a 16-9-3 edge in the series. This will be the first match between the two teams since their 2019 Atlantic 10 Championship semifinal at Jack Coffey Field, which ended in penalty kicks with Rhode Island taking it, 7-6.
LAST TIME OUT (3/20): Behind goals from
Sameer Fathazada and
Matt Sloan the Fordham men's soccer team posted a 2-0 win over the Saint Francis Red Flash on Saturday night, improving the team's record to 2-0.
The start of the match was a unique one, as it was supposed to be played on Jack Coffey Field but moved to Murphy Field. The change in venue on the Fordham campus did not phase the Rams, as they took a 1-0 lead just 10 minutes into the match.
Sameer Fathazada and
Alberto Pangrazzi played a little give-and-go in the box with Fathazada finishing the play with a shot from ten yards for his second goal of the season.
The half ended with the Rams having the one-goal lead, as well as an 8-3 shot advantage.
The second half was more of the same, as Fordham out shot the Red Flash, 9-3, and added an insurance marker in the 81
st minute.
Florian Deletioglu slid a pass to the left side of the box, which
Matt Sloan drilled into the right side of the net for his first goal of the year.
The two-goal lead was enough for Fordham goalkeeper
Josh Levine, who had one save in the game for his second shutout of the season.
COMING UP BIG, WHEN IT COUNTS: Since joining the Rams in 2018, senior
Sameer Fathazada always seems to have a flare for the dramatic and has continued that trend this spring. After netting three game-winning goals in his first two seasons, he has added two more to the ledger in 2021.
WHO'S NEXT: Following this week's matches, the Rams will have a two Atlantic 10 matches next week, traveling to La Salle on March 30
th, while hosting Massachusetts on April 3
rd.
