By JAKE GROGAN
STAFF WRITER
After suffering what could have been a morale disaster at the hands (or feet) of Dartmouth Friday night, the Rams bounced back for an impressive 3-0 win against Vermont to improve to 2-4-1.
Dartmouth was able to net four goals against the Rams Friday night, two in the first half against junior goalkeeper Ally White and two in the second against freshman Megan Fitzgerald. Two of those goals were scored by Dartmouth’s Emma Brush, who also contributed an assist to the 4-0 win.
The loss was the third shutout by an opposing team against the Rams this season, highlighting the offensive struggles that Fordham has been experiencing throughout the beginning of the 2013 season.
Hopefully Sunday’s game against Vermont showed us a sign of things to come, as the Rams’ offense celebrated three goals in the first half that would end up resulting in a 3-0 win. Freshman forward Nicol Natale started the scoring in the 15th minute off a cross feed from senior forward Kelley Alpaugh. Natale put the ball past Vermont goalkeeper Ally Ramos for her first collegiate goal.
Senior midfielder Kelsey Dougherty Howard would put the Rams up 2-0 15 minutes later with a header off a free kick from senior midfielder Mary Solimine. Dougherty Howard would get involved in the scoring again with a long pass to freshman defender Nicole Bates, who beat Vermont’s defense and sent a cross feed to junior midfielder Jessica Widmann. Widman hit a header into the net, joining Dougherty Howard in scoring their second goals of the season.
“The midfield connected the team, keeping everyone compact,” Widmann said. “As a new forward, I couldn’t have asked for anything more from the midfield and defense. They dominated the field and kept possession for our team.”
The defense played as spectacularly as the offense did on Sunday, allowing only one shot on goal for the whole game. White and Fitzgerald each played a half, with Fitzgerald making a major save in the second half.
“If we continue to play with the calmness we did yesterday, I feel that will keep the offensive success going,” continued Widmann, addressing the team’s strategy for continuing its success.
The team’s next three opponents are a combined 9-7-3, with a game at Providence coming up this Friday, Sept. 20. The Friars have given up just seven goals in seven games, three of which came against Dayton, so the Rams are going to have to be firing on all cylinders to get back to .500.
They certainly have the talent to do it. Their defense is loaded with both freshman talent and junior and senior experience. Their midfielders are made up of a group of veterans that know how to get the offense going. If the two units begin to click at the same time, like they did against Vermont, this team could cause some serious problems for other A-10 schools.
The Rams open conference play at Rose Hill against Rhode Island on Sept. 29. Their next home game is on Sept. 24 against Princeton.