After opening the season with a 2-6 record and scoring only three goals total in their first seven outings, the women’s soccer team looked like it might be in some serious season-long trouble. In the four games since the .250 start, the team has evened its record to 6-6, winning two in-conference games against Duquense and St. Bonaventure. Both conference wins came in shutout fashion, with the Rams winning 2-0 over Duquense and St. Bonaventure in a span of three days.

The Duquense game was the second to last of this home stand, and the conference opponent came in with a slightly better record, then 4-5-1, as compared to Fordham’s then 4-6 mark. A sluggish first half showed in the stats, with the two teams mustering only a combined three shots on goal over 45 minutes, but in the second, the Rams turned it on. At the 58th minute, a blocked header off of a corner kick led to a messy scrum around the goal. Midfielder Kaitlin Abrams, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’13, was able to take advantage, knocking it in for a 1-0 Rams lead.

The game remained close all the way until the 89th minute, which saw forward Kate McDonald, FCRH ’15, give Fordham some last-minute victory insurance, providing a perfectly-placed shot in the top-left corner of the goal for a 2-0 lead and for the first goal of her career. Goalkeeper Rachel Suther, FCRH ’15, notched three saves and earned what was then her second shutout of the season.

Against St. Bonaventure, a team that came in at a weary 3-7-1, Fordham managed a quicker start, with forward Kristina Maksuti, FCRH ’15, scoring in the 23rd minute. The goal was knocked in off of her own rebound, giving Maksuti her team-leading fourth goal of the season. Midfielder Cara Rooney, FCRH ’13 added a little comfort, again late in the game, scoring in the 83rd minute. Suther earned her third shutout of the season and her second of the weekend most notably by saving a hard, low shot in the 87th minute by St. Bonaventure’s Abby Maiello. The conference win locked up a 4-1 record for Fordham’s current home stand, which came to an end against St. Bonaventure.

The team will travel to another conference opponent, Virgina Commonwealth University (VCU), who come into their matchup with the Rams boasting a 6-3-3 record and a 1-1 conference record, as well. The hostile territory should not be much of a concern for Fordham though, as the VCU Rams have done much better in road games (5-2) than they have at home (1-0-3). The team would benefit greatly from rising above .500 and remaining undefeated in conference play through this road contest, as the team is set for another stretch of home games beginning on Oct. 12.

For a team that was plagued by early losses and an anemic offense, the recent string of strong shutouts should be more than welcome news. If the Rams can maintain the momentum, they may well be looking at a playoff run in the near future.