By Leighton Schneider

Fordham Women’s Soccer split its Atlantic 10 games for the third straight week. Last Thursday, the Rams fell to league leader George Washington 1-0, before shutting out Richmond on Sunday 3-0.

Thursday’s game ended up becoming a showdown with the top two defensive teams in the conference playing each other.

Fordham held George Washington to one shot, but it ended up in the back of the net. In the fourth minute, freshman forward Sophie Pavon scored off of a free kick that ended up in the top right corner.

Fordham was able to lock down defensively for the rest of the way, but could not find an equalizer in the final 86 minutes of action.

Graduate student midfielder Jessica Widmann, senior midfielder Ivana Lahcanski and junior forward Turner Block led the Rams with one shot on goal each. Despite the loss, head coach Jessica Clinton thought the team played tremendously.

“We, as a coaching staff, walked out of that game feeling good,” said Clinton. “Despite the 1-0 loss we were the better team. Overall, we were extremely happy with the effort that was put out on defense, as well as offensively with what we were putting on goal.”

On Sunday, the Rams were able to get their offense going, while their defense locked down again.

Red-shirt senior forward Kristina Maksuti opened the scoring in the 13th minute with her sixth goal of the season and 23rd of her career. Junior defender Ally Doyle sent a free kick from the right side of the field into the box and Maksuti then headed it into the back across the goal to the far post. It was Doyle’s first assist of the year.

“Ally Doyle played a great ball to Kristina and she put it into the back of the net with conviction,” said Clinton.

In the 35th minute, the Rams doubled their lead when Widmann scored her team-leading 11th goal of the year. Sophomore midfielder Natalie Sims sent a lob pass over defenders to Widmann who shot it from eight yards out on the left side to the far post. The assist was Sims’ first of the year.

Freshman midfielder Lane Cronin capped the scoring in the 41st minute with the first goal of her career. Cronin was able to force a turnover in the Richmond backline and scored from five yards out.

Clinton thought that goal would give Cronin a confidence boost.

“I know the team was excited when she scored and there was a big celebration,” said Clinton. “I think it is a confidence builder for Lane. I think she has been trying to put the ball into the back of the net. I think it was a terrific moment.”

Junior goaltender Megan Fitzgerald ended the game with four saves. She is now 10-6 on the year. The shutout was Fitzgerald’s seventh on the year and Fordham’s ninth overall. The nine shutouts are a single season record for Fordham.

The Rams are 11-6-0 on the year and 5-3 in the A-10. They are currently tied for fourth in the league with Saint Joseph’s, with two games remaining in the regular season.

The Rams finish the season with two home games this week. They face off against Davidson on Thursday night, before ending the year against George Mason on Sunday. The Rams are 4-1 at home on the season.