FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fordham men's soccer team picked up its first victory of the 2024 campaign on Wednesday, quickly overcoming an early deficit to notch a 2-1 win at Sacred Heart.
Freshman forward Daniel Lang registered the game-winner for Fordham (1-0-1) in the 77th minute, recording his first collegiate goal in just his second appearance. Ede Gramberg and Daniel D'Ippolito picked up assists on the play. Junior midfielder Noe Messer got the Rams on the board late in the first half, also logging his first collegiate marker in just his fourth Fordham cap.
Graduate student goalkeeper Carter Abbott stopped three shots to register his first win of the season.
On the evening, Fordham outshot the Pioneers, 17-10, including a 10-4 edge in shots on goal. In the second half, the Rams took seven shots without allowing a single chance on the other end. The Rams also earned five corner kicks to Sacred Heart's one.
Following a back-and-forth start to the match, Sacred Heart struck first in the 41st minute with an unassisted goal by Eli Stein.
Just about three minutes later, the Rams capitalized on a Sacred Heart miscue to level the match. Sacred Heart keeper Andrew Hammersley misplayed a clearance, which Messer controlled before sending a ball into back of the net from 30 yards out.
Fordham dominated possession coming out of the locker room before breaking through in the 77th minute. The sequence began with a takeaway in the defensive third by Jed Dixon, who played the ball to a streaking Lang up the left side. Lang then sent a pass to the middle of the field for Gramberg, who touched it to the far side for D'Ippolito. D'Ippolito then set a ball back across the field to the back post, where Lang buried it with one touch of his left foot.
Coming off an undefeated season at home a year ago (5-0-3), the Rams will return to Moglia Stadium on Sunday at 1 p.m. to host Colgate. Kick-off is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
