After a difficult 2022, where the team recorded a 3-4-9 record, Fordham Men’s Soccer looks to bounce back this year after making some massive changes to their lineup and roster in addition to adding fresh faces to the coaching staff. Failing to make the Atlantic 10 Tournament this past season, the team is putting the past behind them as they welcome 15 new additions to the team.
Senior Murat Calkap, graduate student Kai Griese, junior Grady Kozak and sophomore Georgios Kantaras all joined the team during this past spring season. Now, eight transfers and three freshmen will take the field for the Rams this fall. They include graduate students Carter Abbott, Sigfus Arnason, Harper Cook, Jimmy Joyce, Louis Lehr, Luis Puchol, Liam Salmon, Shizu Yohena and the three freshmen, Niko Cappellini, Leo Perelman and Maclin Stover.
Helpfully, four of these transfers spent time at rival A-10 schools and can hopefully bring a competitive edge to the Rams’ squad. Aside from the players, head coach Carlo Acquista announced the addition of a new assistant coach in Tom Giovatto. After an extensive head coaching career over the past 16 seasons at St. Francis Brooklyn College, Acquista is excited to have him join the team: “We’re excited to welcome Tom to Fordham Men’s Soccer. Knowing Tom and having watched his teams for the past two decades, I have the utmost admiration for him as both a person and a coach. He’s a brilliant soccer mind with a track record of success that will surely help us this season.”
Be sure to be on the lookout for returning Rams as well, with graduate student Timo Hummrich receiving pre-season honors for his efforts with the Rams. Hummrich received First Team All-Atlantic 10 honors last season after leading the team with six goals. In addition, he recorded three assists to bring his total to 15 points — a team-high. Senior Florian Deletioglu returns this year for his senior season and also had a strong season last year for the Rams, totaling three goals and four assists for a third overall 10 points for the Rams.
Last season, the Rams had a very difficult time finishing games, with nine contests ending in a tie. Their conference play did not fare much better with the team finishing 1-2-5, recording their single win against St. Bonaventure University back in September, in what would be their last win of the season.
Looking at 2023, the skies are the limit for this team. A-10 conference play will open up against St. Bonaventure on Sept. 19, before dueling it out with Manhattan College for a rivalry game. Following that, the Rams have a difficult schedule facing St. Louis College on the road, who eliminated them during the 2021 A-10 playoffs in the second round.
More contests for the Rams include Davidson College, St. Joseph’s University, Rhode Island University, University of Massachusetts, Duquesne University and Loyola University Chicago for A-10 play.
The season opens up on Aug. 24 with play against Sacred Heart University at home on Jack Coffey Field.
