Bronx, N.Y. – (September 11, 2024) – After scoring seven goals and registering two victories last week, the Fordham women's soccer team concludes non-conference play on Thursday at Columbia for a 7:00 PM match.
The Rams (5-1-1) look to keep the momentum rolling after wins over Stonehill and Yale last week, where Fordham got three goals each from
Abby Borchers and
Julia Acosta, while
Liina Tervo had a goal and three assists in those matches.
Columbia (0-2-3) is still in search of their first win of the season. The Lions played to a scoreless draw against FDU in their home opener last week, but then hit the road against #2 North Carolina and were defeated, 2-0. Nata Ramirez leads Columbia in scoring with three goals, while Lauren Rodriguez has played every minute in goal, making 11 saves in five matches.
SERIES HISTORY: The Rams and Lions have been regular adversaries since Fordham moved to varsity status in 1993. They have met 21 times previously with the Lions holding a 14-7 record and have taken the last three meetings, which included a 2-0 decision at Moglia Stadium last season. Fordham's last win over Columbia came in 2017.
ACOSTA NAMED A-10 ROOKIE OF THE WEEK (9/9): The Atlantic 10 Conference released its weekly women's soccer awards on Monday with Fordham freshman
Julia Acosta earning the league's Rookie of the Week honor. It is her first career weekly award and the second Ram to receive the distinction this season, joining
Liina Tervo.
Acosta totaled three goals in two matches this past week, as the Rams posted wins over Stonehill and Yale. After netting her third goal of the season against Stonehill on Thursday, she scored twice on Sunday at Yale, including the game-winning goal in the 70
th minute.
LAST TIME OUT (9/8): Fordham's
Julia Acosta scored twice, while
Addison Green made six saves in net, as the Rams defeated the Yale Bulldogs, 3-2, at Reese Stadium on Sunday evening. It was Fordham's first win over the Bulldogs in five all-time meetings.
The Rams opened the scoring early in the 12
th minute.
Ava Giudice chested a ball down for control and centered a cross to
Ryann Lucas. Lucas touched a through ball ahead to
Abby Borchers for a shot and goal from 15 yards. It was Borchers' fourth goal of the season.
Yale quickly knotted the game at one in the 15
th minute, as Tanner Cahalan volleyed a Meredith Phillips' cross inside the left post from 12 yards out.
Fordham regained the lead in the 24
th minute on a beautiful effort from
Julia Acosta. Giudice started the play on the run toward the middle of the Yale end. Giudice laid off a pass to the left for Acosta, who touched around a defender and blasted a shot into the right side netting for her fourth goal of the season.
The score stayed at 2-1 until the 61
st minute, when Yale tied the game at two. Ashley Kirschner knocked in a cross from Cahalan from six yards out for her first goal of the year.
The Rams once again had an answer in the 70
th minute, going back ahead by a 3-2 score.
Liina Tervo was on the run down the left side and played a cross into the box, which snuck its way to Acosta, who one-timed a shot from 10 yards for her second goal of the game and fifth of the season.
Fordham was stellar down the stretch, keeping possession of the ball, while getting a couple of key saves from goalkeeper
Addison Green to finish off the 3-2 win. Green finished with a season-high six saves on the night, recording her fifth win of the year.
WHAT A START!: The Rams opened the season at 3-0 for just the third time in team history, matching the 2004 and 2010 seasons. Through seven games, the Rams are 5-1-1, which is the team's best record through seven games since 2016.
THAT WAS FAST: With Fordham scoring just 40 seconds into its first match of the season, that goal was the second fastest marker score in an opening contest this season. The only marker that was quicker came from South Carolina's Katie Shea Collins, who netted her first of three goals against Furman in only 34 seconds.
THAT WAS FAST (PART II): Freshman
Liina Tervo turned in a rare hat trick for the Fordham Rams against UAlbany on August 25
th, scoring three goals in just six minutes and 29 seconds. It was the second fastest hat trick in the NCAA this season with only Tarleton State's Lauren Grissom scoring one faster in five minutes and 10 seconds against Austin College on August 22
nd. Additionally, Tervo's hat trick was the fastest in Fordham history, bettering the six minutes and 49 seconds by Haley Lentsch in 2006 against Temple.
WHO'S NEXT: The Rams begin Atlantic 10 play on Thursday, September 19
th, as Fordham heads to George Mason for a 7:00 PM start, while hosting Loyola Chicago on Sunday, September 22
nd at 1:00 PM.
