BRONX, N.Y. – The Fordham men's soccer team staged a thrilling comeback on Wednesday night at Moglia Stadium, scoring a pair of second-half goals, including an 89th minute penalty kick, to draw with Saint Louis, 2-2.
After falling in an early 2-0 hole, Andre Insalaco scored his second goal of the season to get the Rams on the board in the 52nd minute off an assist from Daniel D'Ippolito. In the 89th minute, D'Ippolito converted on a PK for his team leading seventh goal of the season, pulling the Rams even and securing the result for the home side.
Saint Louis (4-2-5, 2-0-2 Atlantic 10) entered the contest having surrendered just six goals in 10 games this season, good enough for the nation's sixth best goals against average (0.60). Wednesday marked just the second time this year that the Billikens had conceded multiple goals in the same game.
Fordham (4-3-4, 1-1-2 Atlantic 10) fell behind early, as the Billikens scored in the 10th minute after Matthew Wrobel headed home his third of the year off assists from Drake Fournier and Carlos Leatherman. Just over 10 minutes later, Nate Ward backheeled a ball to Seth Anderson, who found the back of the net for the first time this season and gave the Billikens an early 2-0 edge.
The Rams began to find some rhythm toward the end of the half before getting on the score sheet early in the second stanza. In the 52nd minute, D'Ippolito took possession of the ball near midfield before sending a pass out to the left side for Insalaco. The junior took a hard step toward the middle of the field to shake his defender before blasting a right-footed shot into the bottom right corner of the goal from just over 20 yards out.
With the deficit down to one, Fordham continued to press, but struggled to equalize. Then, in the 89th minute, a stroke of luck helped the Rams break through. Emile Kisse sent a cross into the box from the right side that found the hand of Leatherman, giving the Rams a penalty kick opportunity in the game's waning moments. D'Ippolito stood at the spot and stutter-stepped before burying it to the left post past the outstretched hands of Jeremi Abonnel.
On the game, Fordham outshot the Billikens, 14-9, and earned seven corners to Saint Louis' three.
Fordham will return to action on the road this weekend, traveling to Dayton for a 7 p.m. showdown with the Flyers.
