BRONX, N.Y. – After breaking into the United Soccer Coaches poll earlier this week, the No. 18 Fordham men's soccer will return to action on Friday night with a trip to Poughkeepsie to take on Marist. The Rams and the Red Foxes will kick off at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
Fordham (3-1-1) entered the national rankings on Tuesday thanks in large part to a lopsided 4-0 win over reigning WCC Co-Champ Santa Clara on Sept. 5 in the Bronx. Four days later, the Rams were tied, 1-1, in the 72nd minute at now-No. 15 Penn before the Quakers broke the deadlock on a goal that replay showed to be a clear handball. As no in-game video review was available to the referees, the goal was upheld and Penn hung on for the win.
The Rams' national ranking marks the fourth time in the last five seasons under Head Coach Carlo Acquista that Fordham has been included for at least one week in the United Soccer Coaches poll. The Rams' no. 18 ranking is the program's highest since the third week of the 2018 season, when Fordham checked in at no. 12 after starting the season 2-0-2 on the heels of a NCAA Tournament quarterfinals appearance in 2017.
Fordham's 4-0 win over Santa Clara last Thursday night was highlighted by a Daniel D'Ippolito hat trick, the 31st game in the 70-plus year history of the program with at least three goals. The junior became the 19th different Ram since 1952 to score at least three goals in a single match and the first since Eric Ohlendorf in the 2016 Atlantic 10 Tournament. For his efforts, D'Ippolito was rewarded with a spot on the TopDrawerSoccer National Team of the Week.
D'Ippolito's four goals so far this season are tied for 15th in the nation.
Marist enters the Friday evening contest with a record of 1-4. The Red Foxes defeated Army, 1-0, on Sept. 5, but have been outscored by a combined margin of 15-1 in four losses to Wisconsin, Marquette, Cornell and UAlbany.
Fordham and Marist have met on the pitch 27 times since 1980 with the Rams holding a 17-7-3 advantage in the all-time series.
The teams last faced off on Sept. 12, 2018, when the Red Foxes played the 12th ranked Rams to a 1-1 draw in Poughkeepsie. The Rams are riding an eight-match unbeaten streak in the series, having last lost to Marist on Sept. 15, 2004, in the Bronx.
