CHICAGO – With just five and a half minutes remaining in the second half, Loyola Chicago scored the game's only goal to defeat Fordham, 1-0, on Saturday afternoon at Loyola Soccer Park.
With the loss, Fordham wraps the regular season with a record of 6-3-7 and a 3-3-2 mark in Atlantic 10 play. The Rams had already secured an A-10 Tournament berth following last weekend's 1-1 draw with Duquesne, but Fordham is now assured of a road match in the quarterfinals.
Despite coming out on the wrong end of the decision, Fordham outshot the Ramblers, 11-8, with a 5-3 edge in shots on goal.
Liam Salmon,
Florian Deletioglu and
Daniel D'Ippolito tallied three shots apiece for the Rams.
Fordham logged the game's first chances in the third minute, as D'Ippolito had a dangerous shot batted away by the keeper before Salmon was stoned on the rebound.
The Rams remained on the front foot in the early going, holding a 6-1 edge in shots at the 25-minute mark of the match.
Fordham outshot the Ramblers, 7-5, in the opening half.
The Rams' best chance of the game came in the 75
th minute, when Salmon sent a rocket toward the cage that Rambler goalkeeper Aidan Crawford deflected off the cross bar.
Fordham will learn its opening-round Atlantic 10 Tournament opponent later this evening following the conclusion of the day's league slate.
