This time last year, we would have been reporting on basketball, indoor track and swimming, to name a few of the regularly-scheduled winter season sports. After the crazy year that was 2020, 2021 is trying to bring to light many of the events we missed last year. This includes Fordham Women’s Soccer, paused due to the ongoing pandemic.

After careful planning and coordination, the Atlantic 10 concluded that making a schedule that did not require much traveling would be in the best interest of every school involved. Schools are going to be playing in “regional” pods that will create a safer environment without many travel issues. With only four away games, the Rams will get the home advantage, playing on a familiar field minus the familiar fans. 

In the preseason poll, Fordham has been ranked 10th, between ninth place Duquesne University and 11th place Davidson College. At the top, the Saint Louis University Billikens are expected to be dominant in competition. That being said, Fordham is never scared of a challenge, and head coach Jessica Clinton said just as much: “This may not be an expectation, but I do hope that as we go through the season, our team continues to have fun even when it’s a hard day.”

Exciting “Battle of the Rams” games will take place on March 25 and April 1. The Fordham Rams will face the University of Rhode Island Rams, a matchup in which each team will have home field once. The regular season will end on Apr. 11 at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. This championship season will also look a little different this year as only four teams will be able to compete instead of the usual eight. 

Although the first A-10 soccer game back was postponed due to weather conditions, players and coaches alike can expect to see a season like they never have before. Weather stoppages, COVID stoppages and any change in schedule must be quickly accounted for when it comes to the upcoming season. 

Not knowing when you are going to compete next is tough for any athlete. It has been difficult to adjust to the change in schedule, and the women’s soccer team knows about this struggle all too well. The women have had to continue practices and maintain their strength and conditioning, hoping for the chance to compete. 

Once the schedules were released, the team had something to look forward to. Clinton also notes the other challenges that came with their new situation. “There was a lot more going on outside of soccer and a change of schedule seemed so minor,” she said. “Our group has learned to adapt and be resilient pretty quickly.” 

“This is the first time we are playing NCAA championship-style soccer in the winter/spring, so I’m not sure what it will look like, but luckily enough, during January and February months, we are usually training in limited hours and mostly outdoors,” she said.

With so many unexpected changes and challenges, the athletes must be ready to play hard every chance they get. The Rams know what is coming their way, and they are not scared to face it.