Last Monday, the Fordham University Rams traveled to Philadelphia, Pa., to take on 2022 Ivy League Champions, the University of Pennsylvania. The Quakers took 13 minutes to get on the board when the Rams were whistled for a handball in the box. Senior forward Stas Korzeniowski stepped up and converted from the spot.
Fordham equalized in the 35th minute when graduate student forward Luke Pompliano intercepted an errant pass from the UPenn defense before unleashing a shot on goal that soared past the outstretched goalkeeper.
The match would remain level until the 72nd minute when UPenn took the lead controversially. The Quakers whipped a corner into the box toward senior defender Leo Burney, who used a close fist to direct the ball into the back of the net. Unfortunately for the Rams, this infraction went unnoticed by match officials, and with the lack of in-game replay, there was nothing they could do to overturn the go-ahead goal.
UPenn got an insurance goal in the 87th minute from senior midfielder Charlie Gaffney, who dashed past the Ram defense before slotting it past graduate student goalkeeper Carter Abbott.
Despite the early-week loss to UPenn, the Fordham Rams checked in at number 18 on the United Soccer Coaches poll with their 3-1-1 start to the season. In addition to their team acclaim, junior forward Daniel D’ippolito found individual recognition this week through his inclusion in the TopDrawerSoccer team of the week.
Despite their recognition in the coaches poll, the Rams suffered their second road loss in a row on Friday when they traveled to Poughkeepsie, N.Y., to face the Marist University Red Foxes. The Rams scored quickly in this contest, taking the lead in under three minutes. Junior forward Bennett Leitner drew the attention of the Marist defense in the attacking third before slipping the ball to D’ippolito, who zipped the ball far post for his fifth goal of the season.
The Red Foxes got on the board when senior forward Richard Morel delivered a cross into the box deflected into the net by a Ram Defender. Marist took the lead in the 65th minute when sophomore midfielder Arion Ulaj sent a free-kick goal side-chested home by Morel to make the score 2-1. That result would hold for the rest of the match, bringing Fordham’s record to 3-2-2. The score could have been less flattering for the Rams as they faced 12 shots on target, but Carter Abbott had a career-high 10 saves between the sticks to keep it close.
The Rams will look to bounce back against the Manhattan College Jaspers at Moglia Stadium for the always highly anticipated annual “Battle of the Bronx.” D’ippolito netted a goal in their last meeting at Rose Hill; the Rams will look to replicate that 2-0 victory on Monday night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. EST.
