BRONX, N.Y. (Aug. 31, 2023) – Playing its first game at the newly minted Moglia Stadium, the Fordham men's soccer team scored twice in the opening 23 minutes before hanging on to take down the University of Pennsylvania, 2-1, on Friday evening.
The Quakers, who received votes in Tuesday's United Soccer Coaches poll, are coming off an Ivy League Championship and a second round NCAA Tournament appearance in 2022. Penn (0-1-0) returned four of its top six point producers from last year's squad that won 13 games.
Friday's win came five years to the day since the Rams' last victory over a team receiving votes in the national poll, as Fordham took down Wisconsin, 1-0, on Sept. 1, 2018, in Madison.
Timo Hummrich netted the game-winner, his second of the year, on a penalty kick in the 23
rd minute. The Rams' opening marker came off the foot of
Liam Salmon for his first goal as a Ram.
Daniel D'Ippolito tallied his second assist in as many games on the play.
Making just his second collegiate appearance and his first start,
Alex Dolce picked up the win between the pipes. The senior from Chadds Ford, Pa., recorded three stops, two of which came in the second half.
Luis Puchol,
Jed Dixon and
Adrian Valentine logged 90 minutes apiece on the backline in front of Dolce.
The Rams (2-0-1) wasted no time getting on the board, as D'Ippolito and Salmon connected for a highlight-reel goal in the sixth minute. After receiving a throw-in near his own bench, D'Ippolito used some nifty dribbling to create space before sending a pass across the pitch in a perfect spot for Salmon. The graduate student corralled the bouncing ball 10 yards from the goal and promptly buried a shot into the near-side upper 90.
Penn responded in the 23
rd minute, as reigning Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year Stas Korzeniowski recorded his first of the year off assists from Mateo Zazueta and Ben Do.
The deadlock, however, was short-lived. Just 46 seconds of gameplay later, Salmon drew a foul inside the box to set up a penalty kick chance for Hummrich. The graduate student blasted a left-footed strike into the lower-right corner, allowing the Rams to retake the lead, an advantage that they would not relinquish.
Fordham will not have to wait long before taking on its next nationally renowned opponent, as the Rams will travel to the nation's capital on Monday to face off against Georgetown. The Hoyas, the reigning BIG EAST Regular Season Champion and the winner of the 2019 national title, also received votes in Tuesday's United Soccer Coaches poll after checking in at no. 17 in the preseason. On Friday afternoon, the Hoyas knocked off No. 8 Pittsburgh, 4-1, at home.
Monday's match can be streamed live on
FloFC, a platform that requires a subscription.
Live stats for the match will also be available.
