Fordham and Loyola Maryland Play to Abbreviated 1-1 Draw

BRONX, N.Y. (Sept. 11, 2023) – The Fordham men's soccer team remained undefeated on Monday afternoon, playing Loyola Maryland to a weather-shortened 1-1 draw at Moglia Stadium at Jack Coffey Field.
 
Lightning in the area forced the cancelation of the game's final 19:47.  Since the contest went more than 70 minutes, the result is considered official.
 
With the tie, Fordham moved to 2-0-3 on the year while Loyola drew for its fourth time in five games (0-1-4).
 
Nathan Simes scored Fordham's lone goal of the afternoon, burying the rebound off a saved Grady Kozak shot in the 60^th minute.  Simes, a member of the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team last season, found the back of the net for the first time this fall.  Kozak's assist was also his first of the campaign.
 
Carter Abbott made his fourth appearance of the year in goal, registering a season-high six saves to help Fordham earn the result.  On the year, Abbott now boasts a 0.92 goals against average with an .833 save percentage.
 
Fordham held a 15-8 shot advantage on the match.
 
Fordham appeared to strike first in the 13^th minute on a header goal from Florian Deletioglu, but his effort was called off by the referee after a foul on the Loyola goalkeeper.
 
The Rams produced a few more qualities looks at the cage over the reamainder of the first half, but went into the locker room with no score.   
 
Loyola got on the board first in the 49^th minute, as Curtis Wagner played a long ball from midfield that took a high bounce off the turf into a gap in the Fordham defense.  Caden Stafford arrived there first for the Greyhounds, chipping a header over a charging Abbott and into the back of the cage to take a 1-0 lead.
 
The lead was short-lived; however, as Simes leveled the score just over 10 minutes later with his first of the season.  Kozak fired a left-footed shot from 25 yards out that was stopped by a diving Dylan van der Walt, but he was unable to control the rebound.  The second chance found Simes in front, who played it down with his chest before finishing with his right put and pulling the Rams even.
 
The Rams will return to action on Saturday when they welcome St. Bonaventure for their Atlantic 10 opener.  Kick-off from Moglia Stadium is set for 3 p.m.