Bronx, N.Y. – (September 27, 2023) – It will be a busy weekend for the Fordham women's soccer team with two league matches, as the Rams hit the midway point of Atlantic 10 play with matches against Dayton and Davidson.
Following losses to St. Bonaventure and Yale in their last two matches, Fordham (3-6-2, 1-1-1 A10) will have its work cut out for them on Thursday, as the Rams travel to Dayton. The Flyers (7-1-4, 2-0-2 A10) sit in a tie for second in the league standings and boast the second-best offense in the Atlantic 10, averaging just over two goals per contest (25 goals in 12 games).
Dayton also has one of the stingiest defenses, giving up only nine goals on the season, which is tied for second-best in the Atlantic 10. The team is led by Madison Wilson, who has five goals and three assists on the year, while Batoul Reda has posted four shutouts and 47 saves in goal.
The Rams then return home on Sunday for their Alumni Day celebration, as they host the Davidson Wildcats at Moglia Stadium. For those alumni that have not RSVP'd for the event, please contact Shannon Lulley at
slulley@fordham.edu.
The Wildcats enter this week's action at 3-7-1, 0-3-1 in the Atlantic 10, as they will play at Rhode Island on Thursday before coming to the Bronx. Davidson has scored just eight goals on the year with Aleia Gisolfi-McCready and Savannah Pruitt each having two to lead the team. Emily Smith has played every second in net for the Wildcats in 2023, posting a 1.46 goals against average and three shutouts.
GAME COVERAGE:
Thursday – Fordham at Dayton – 7:00 PM –
Live Video (ESPN+) |
Live Stats | Follow on the team on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram - @FordhamWoSoc
Sunday – Davidson at Fordham – 1:00 PM –
Live Video (MSG Networks/ESPN+) |
International Feed |
Live Stats | Follow on the team on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram - @FordhamWoSoc
SERIES HISTORY: Thursday will be the 25
th all-time meeting between the Rams and Flyers. Dayton has the advantage in the series with a 19-2-3 record over Fordham, while posting an 11-0 record at Baujan Field in Ohio. Fordham's last win over Dayton came in 2016 in the Bronx.
On Sunday, it will be the eighth meeting between Fordham and Davidson since the Wildcats joined the Atlantic 10 in 2015. The Rams have done well against the Wildcats, posting a 5-1-1 record against Davidson. Davidson's lone win came last season, a 1-0 decision in North Carolina.
LAST TIME OUT (9/25): Yale's Belle Golden and Alanna Butcher each had a goal and an assist on Monday night to lead the Bulldogs to a 4-1 win over the Fordham Rams in women's soccer action at Moglia Stadium.
The Bulldogs opened the scoring in the 24th minute. Anita Thorvalsdottir used her ballhandling skills around the left side of the box, getting a cross toward the penalty spot area. Meredith Phillips was there to slot a shot into the left side of the net for her first goal of the season.
Yale made it 2-0 early in the second half, when Ellie Rappole blasted home a shot from 30 yards out for her fourth tally of the year.
In the 69th minute, the Bulldogs increased the lead to three, as Annika Bryant laid off a pass to Belle Golden on the right side of the box. Alanna Butcher got a head on Golden's cross into the center of the box, flicking the ball over Fordham goalkeeper
Serena Mensah inside the left post for her first goal. Butcher and Golden combined for another goal in the 72nd minute when Butcher intercepted a Mensah punt and put a through ball ahead to Golden. Golden quickly chipped the ball into the net for her first marker of the year.
Fordham would get on the board in the 73rd minute for the 4-1 final score.
Cianna Elmazaj was able to find
Caroline Monahan on an offensive rush about 20 yards from the goal. Monahan then fended off a Yale defender to get off a chip over the Yale keeper inside the right post for her team-leading fourth goal of the season.
WELCOME BACK CIANNA: After sustaining an injury after her first game as a Ram, Fordham's
Cianna Elmazaj returned to the Rams' lineup against St. Bonaventure on September 21
st. Her impact on the field was immediately felt, netting a goal against the Bonnies, while assisting on the Rams' lone goal against Yale on Monday. In three games this season, she has two goals and an assist for five points.
RAMSES CHALLENGE: The Ramses Challenge is back for the 2023 season and fans can pledge their support for the Fordham women's soccer team by
clicking here.
WHO'S NEXT: After this week's matches, Fordham's next match will be on Sunday, October 8
th, when the Rams head to Rhode Island for a 1:00 PM match.
