Fordham Men’s Soccer continued its four-game road trip this week, making the short trip to face Seton Hall University. This was the 31st meeting all-time between the Rams and Pirates, with the Pirates holding a 16–12–2 advantage in the series history. Fordham looked to avoid losing its third straight match. Seton Hall came into Tuesday evening winners of three straight games, meaning a potential road win for the Rams would not come easy.

Making matters worse, the Rams were going to be without senior defender and captain Joergen Oland. Despite being the anchor on the defensive backline, Oland would also be missed on offense, where he leads the team in goals with four.

The first two real scoring chances of the match came from Fordham senior forward Johannes Pieles. In the seventh and 14th minute, respectively, Pieles ripped two shots on goal. The first shot went wide left of the goal, while his second scoring opportunity looked bound for the back of the net before Pirates goalkeeper Andreas Nota intervened with a great save to keep the game scoreless.

Fordham continued controlling possession with constant offensive attacks, keeping Seton Hall on its heels through the first 30 minutes of regulation. However, the Pirates would finally use the Rams’ aggressiveness on offense against them. In a three-minute span between the 37th and 40th minute, Seton Hall used counter attacks to get three shots on goal. Rams goalkeeper and graduate student Konstantin Weis was able to make saves on two of the three shots.

Unfortunately, Weis could not get a glove on a Pirates shot in the 39th minute and the home team struck first on the scoreboard to take the lead 1–0. Seton Hall took that lead into halftime despite being outplayed by Fordham for a majority of the first half. The Rams outshot Seton Hall 6–5 and forced nine fouls from the Pirates. Still, the Rams were trailing in the column that matters the most.

The second half started visibly slower in comparison with the first half. Neither team was able to get a shot off in the first 14 minutes. Then, in the 54th minute, junior midfielder Andron Kagramanyan gave a great pass to graduate student forward Filippo Ricupati, who finished past Nota for his third goal of the season.

Seton Hall responded swiftly and just four minutes later, the Pirates found the back of the net to retake the lead 2–1.

The Rams were unable to create any more substantial scoring chances from that point on, unable to get another equalizer on the scoreboard. Seton Hall would add one more insurance goal in the 71st minute to put the game away for good. At the end of regulation, the final horn sounded and the Pirates were able to win their fourth straight game 3–1.

The loss drops Fordham to 3–7–1 on the season, and with Tuesday’s loss the Rams are now on a three-game losing streak. The road ahead does not get any easier as three of the next four games for the Rams are on the road. Coach Aquista will have exactly one month to get his team ready for the upcoming final stretch of games, especially with the Atlantic 10 Championship being held at Jack Coffey Field this year.

Fordham Men’s Soccer will be back in action this Saturday as they head on the road to take on the University of Massachusetts. Kickoff is scheduled for 1p.m.