Bronx, N.Y. – (August 12, 2026) – The Fordham women's soccer team opens its 34^th season of varsity action this week with a pair of notable road games against 14^th-ranked Georgetown on Thursday night and Maryland on Sunday afternoon.
 
The Rams are coming off back-to-back winning seasons and appearances in the Atlantic 10 Championship.  Fordham was 10-7-3 overall, 5-4-1 in the Atlantic 10 and made it to the Championship semifinals for the first time since 2015.

PRESEASON POLLS & ACCOLADES

• The Rams were picked to finish fourth in the Atlantic 10 preseason coaches' poll, behind only defending champion Dayton, Saint Louis, and Rhode Island.
• In the same voting, senior Lena Johnsen and sophomore Renata Mercedes were both selected to the preseason All-Conference team, marking the second straight year that Fordham has had two selections.
• Johnsen was a 2025 First Team All-Atlantic 10 selection after being one of three Rams to start all 20 games, while finishing second on the team in scoring with four goals and four assists for 12 points.
• Mercedes was the Atlantic 10 Co-Rookie of the Year in 2025 and a selection to the league's All-Rookie Team.  She played in all 20 games as a freshman, starting 19, and registered three goals and four assists.

 
SERIES HISTORY

• Thursday is just the second all-time meeting between Fordham and Georgetown.Georgetown defeated Fordham, 2-0, at the 2001 ECAC Championship, held at Columbia University.
• Sunday is the fourth all-time meeting between the Rams and Terrapins with Maryland having a 2-1 edge.Fordham won the last meeting in 2012 by a 1-0 score.

 
THE OPPONENTS

• The Hoyas are ranked 14^th in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll after being selected as the preseason favorite in the BIG EAST Conference.
• Goergetown will also feature Lizzie Heller (three goals and four assists in 2025), the conference's preseason Midfielder of the Year, as well as preseason Defensive Player of the Year, Kaya Hanson (23 starts and 13 shutouts in 2025).
• The Terrapins were 6-11 1 in 2025 with a 2-8-1 mark in the Big Ten and were picked 17^th in the preseason coaches' poll.
• Three Maryland players, Faith Luckey, Mckinley Heaven, and Lisa McIntyre, were listed on the Big Ten player to watch.Luckey was the Terrapins' starting goalkeeper, recording 88 saves with five shutouts, while Heaven and McIntyre combined for three game-winning goals.

 
NEWS & NOTES

• Fordham returns five players that scored in double digits last season, led by Lena Johnsen's 12 points on four goals and four assists.Julia Acosta (four goals, three assists), Riley Carroll (five goals, one assist), and Ava Giudice (four goals, three assists) each had 11 points with Renata Mercedes at 10 (three goals, four assists).
• The Rams will have a new primary goalkeeper, following the graduation of Kyla King.Junior captain Addison Green has the most experience, having started 14 games over her first two seasons with a 9-1-4 record, a 1.29 goals against average, and five shutouts.Newcomer Charli Andreen Wermelin is also in the mix, having played seven years of elite, professional-standard development across two nationally top-3 ranked Women's Soccer Academies in Sweden.
• Addison Green and Piper Hasbrook will serve as the 2026 team captains for the Rams.
• Fordham welcomes eight new players to the squad this season, which includes three transfers in Lina Mueller, Liv Johnsen, and Rubie Deaville.Mueller played 39 games for Presbyterian over her final three seasons, netting seven goals and 11 assists, while Deaville spent last season at Michigan.Johnsen played last season at Buffalo, appearing in 18 matches and helping the Bulls record nine shutouts.
• With the addition of Liv Johnsen, the Rams will feature a sister act for the fourth time in team history and first since 2015 with her older sister, Lena Johnsen (Jennifer & Jacquelyn Driscoll – 1994-96; Lauren & Casey Nowakowski – 2010; Kristina & Marjana Maksuti – 2015)
• The Rams are led by 2024 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year Magnus Nilerud, who starts his fifth season at Rose Hill (29-33-12 at Fordham; 324-159-39 overall)

 
WHO'S NEXT

• Following this week, the Rams come home to face Manhattan on Thursday, August 20^th at Moglia Stadium, while getting back on the road for a match at Marist on August 23^rd.