BRONX, N.Y. – The Fordham men's soccer team recorded a solid result against a ranked opponent on Tuesday night, securing a 1-1 draw with No. 18 Hofstra at Moglia Stadium.
Fordham (6-2-4) last registered a result against a ranked opponent early in the 2022 season when it played No. 16 Providence to a scoreless draw on Aug. 28 in the Bronx. With the draw, the Rams remain unbeaten at home (5-0-2) on the year.
Louis Lehr scored the first goal of his Fordham tenure on Tuesday, putting the Rams ahead in just the sixth minute of action. The graduate student became the eighth different Fordham player to find the back of the net so far in 2023.
Nathan Simes and
Shizu Yohena picked up assists on the play.
Eliot Goldthorp logged the lone goal for the Pride (9-1-4).
Carter Abbott matched a season-high with six saves in goal.
Fordham came out of the gate firing, as
Daniel D'Ippolito narrowly missed a goal in the third minute before Lehr put the Rams ahead in the sixth. The play began with a Yohena corner kick, which was headed toward the top of the box by Simes. Lehr corralled the ball before firing a left-footed chance inside the left post to give the Rams the early lead.
The remainder of the opening half was a back-and-forth affair, as Fordham maintained its 1-0 lead, but Hofstra held a 6-4 edge in shots, including a 4-2 advantage in chances on target, at the intermission.
Fordham registered a terrific scoring opportunity in the early minutes of the second stanza. In the 50
th minute,
Sigfus Arnason sent a corner kick to the back post for
Jed Dixon. Dixon headed down the ball, deflecting it off a Pride defender and toward the cage. Hofstra goalkeeper Wessel Speel, however, somehow managed to clear the line with his left hand, keeping the deficit at one.
The Pride erased that deficit just over five minutes later, as Fordham was whistled for a handball in the box, setting up a Goldthorp penalty kick. The junior midfielder converted on the opportunity, leveling the score at 1-1.
With momentum shifting in its favor, the Pride was on the front foot over the next several minutes. Fordham managed to keep the visitors off the board, as Abbott made key saves in both the 61
st and 63
rd minute.
Fordham registerd a great look at a potential game-winner in the 82
nd, as D'Ippolito fought to win control of a loose ball in the box before firing a right-footed chance that deflected off a Hofstra defender in front and missed the goal by the slimmest of margins.
Fordham will return to Atlantic 10 action on Saturday when it travels to UMass for a 1 p.m. start. The Rams and Minutemen are currently tied for third in the conference standings with identical 3-2 records in league play.
