On Thursday, Fordham Women’s Soccer traveled to George Mason University for their first Atlantic 10 matchup. The Fordham University Rams took many shots throughout the match but couldn’t find a goal until the 78th minute when it became goals galore. The Rams got on the board with their first penalty conversion of the season as sophomore Lena Johnsen slotted it past the goalkeeper for her second goal of the season. Their lead was doubled only a minute later as graduate student Abby Borchers found freshman Liina Tervo, who put the ball into the back of the net for her fifth goal of the year, giving Fordham a 2-0 lead. The Rams weren’t done yet, as senior forward Carmen Hardwick controlled a cross from freshman Allison Gardner 12 yards out from the goal before burying the ball inside the right post for a buzzer-beating goal. Hardwick’s first goal of the season came with just one second left on the clock, a somewhat ironic finish given what happens in their next match. Their win in Fairfax, Va., marks the third straight season that the Rams have started off conference play with a victory, taking momentum back to Moglia Stadium for their first home match in a month. 

This Sunday, the Rams welcomed the Ramblers of Loyola Chicago University to Moglia Stadium at Jack Coffey Field for their first matchup as conference adversaries. Both teams entered the afternoon with a record of 6-2-1, good enough for joint first in the A-10 after the opening matchups. Fordham was the first team on the board when a tenth-minute free-kick delivery from freshman winger Julia Acosta found a helping foot from attacking partner Tervo. The early goal was Tervo’s sixth on the season, matching her six assists count, good enough for first in the A-10. Another costly mistake nearly saw the Ramblers crashing out of this one when a freshly substituted-on freshman, Roos Van-Roekel, took down Borchers, who was through on goal and was rewarded a red card for her efforts. Loyola University Chicago did not let going down a player define them as the junior Faith Grisdale poked home a deflected shot that fell at her feet in the 33rd minute to equalize. The Rams nearly had another goal in the first half from a lovely Acosta strike; however, freshman goalkeeper Allison Deardorff showed off her acrobatics to make the stop, adding one of what would become an impressive 11 saves on the night. The Ramblers were the first on the board in the second half when senior forward Jaimee Cibulka danced past the Fordham defense before a well-placed left-footed finish put Loyola Chicago up 2-1 in the 70th minute. Determined to get a result in this one, the Rams pushed forward until the 89th minute when junior captain Ella Guth found Tervo on the wing; she chased the ball to the end line, whipping it back across to sophomore Riley Carrol, who managed to equalize from 20 yards out. Fordham thought they found their winner at the buzzer when senior midfielder Fernanda Serna tapped in a dropped cross by Deardorff, but it was ultimately ruled as scored after the buzzer and offsides. The 2-2 brought both teams to 6-2-2 on the year and 1-0-1 in conference play. 

Fordham will continue its A-10 campaign in Massachusetts on Thursday, Sept. 26, when it takes on the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.