Looking Forward To Fordham Fall Sports
After practicing all summer Fordham’s football team hopes to continue its recent run of success. (PHOTO BY: ANDREA GARCIA/THE OBSERVER)
August 26, 2016
While the fall 2016 semester is right around the corner, Fordham’s athletic teams are already in full swing. These student athletes have been practicing vigorously during the past few weeks in preparation for the new season. It’s time to take a look at some of Fordham’s most electrifying teams preparing to begin their seasons this fall.
Cross Country
Fordham University’s men’s and women’s cross country teams both concluded their 2015 cam- paigns with fifth-place finishes at the ECAC/IC4A Cross Country Championship. For the women’s University Division Championship events, Fordham’s Brianna Tevnan, FCRH ‘15, a graduate student, led the pack with her 13th place fin- ish, with a time of 18:49.3 in the 6K race. Also finishing in the top 30 among 163 total runners were Angelina Grebe, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’19, Kate Mc- Cormack, FCRH ’19, and Brynna Harum, FCRH ‘18. They finished 23rd, 26th and 28th respectively. For the men’s championships, Mike Turi, FCRH ’16, last year’s individual winner, finished fourth overall with a time of 25:57.3 in the 8K race. Also finishing in the top 30 were Nik O’Brien, FCRH ’18, Jonathan Annelli, FCRH ’15, and Jake Duckworth, FCRH ’17. They completed the race in ninth, 15th and 29th, respectively. The Rams’ Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams will commence their season on Sept. 10 at Van Cortlandt Park in the Fordham Fiasco/Ed Joyce Memorial.
Football
Fordham’s football team ended their 2015 season by advancing to their third-straight NCAA FCS Championship, despite falling to the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga with a final score of 50-20. There was much more news to come in the offseason, as Chase Edmonds, FCRH ’18, Garrick Mayweather Jr., FCRH ’16, and Stephen Hodge. FCRH ’15, earned All-America Honors, and STATS All-America Honors. Fordham’s head coach at the time, Joe Moor- head, stepped down from his role to accept a position as the Offensive Coordinator at Pennsylvania State University. Andrew Breiner, who was formerly the Quarterbacks and Passing Game Coach, was selected as the new Head Coach of the team.
Edmonds was later named the ECAC Offensive Player of the Year. In the spring, Fordham senior, Garrick Mayweather Jr., signed a contract with the Kansas City Chiefs and was selected to competefor a roster position for the NFL 2016 regular season. The 2016 sea- son will be interesting to follow as the Rams will be led by quarterback Kevin Anderson, FCRH ‘17, and running back Chase Edmonds. The Ram-Crusader Cup will be hosted by Fordham University and Holy Cross University at Yankee Stadium in November. For Homecoming, the Rams will host the University of Pennsylvania on Sept. 24.
Men’s Water Polo
Fordham’s Water Polo team wrapped up its 2015 season with an overall (20-15) record and a (5-7) conference record. The Rams went 2-1 at the CWPA Champion- ship, earning a ninth place finish. While they fell to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 11-8 in
the first match of the tournament, they were victorious against both Mercyhurst University and George Washington University. Seniors Andrew Gonzalez, FCRH ’16, and Patrick Lenihan, FCRH ’16 were named 2015 ACWPC All-American Honorable Mention awardees. Fordham’s Water Polo team should be optimistic as their seven recruits in the Class of 2020 will provide a boost in their offense and defense in the upcoming season. Based on the team’s offseason improvements, the team should be able to perform better in the Atlantic-10 conference in the 2016 season. The water polo team will commence this season at the Navy Invitational in Annapolis, Maryland on Sept. 3 and 4.
Men’s and Women’s Soccer
Fordham’s men’s and women’s soccer teams both had success-
ful 2015 seasons. The men’s team ended its 2015 season with a 6-7-4 overall record. The Rams advanced to the Atlantic-10 Championship and fell short to Virginia Common- wealth University in the semifinal matchup. Similarly successful, the Fordham women’s soccer
team advanced to the final of the Atlantic-10 Championship. The women’s team failed to capture the championship title as they lost to Duquesne University with a final score of 2-0. The team ended the season with an overall record of 13- 7-2, marking the second most wins in team history.
Despite the team’s performances in the 2015 season, their active recruiting will bolster both the men’s and women’s soccer teams this season. The men’s team added nine additional incoming student- athletes, while the women’s team added eight new recruits, includ- ing one transfer. Additionally, the women’s soccer team had two play- ers chosen to make the preseason All-Conference team.
Fordham’s men’s soccer team plays its first home game of the regular season on Sept. 2, hosting Quinnipiac University. Fordham’s women’s soccer team plays its first home game of the regular season on Sept. 4, hosting Manhattan College.
Women’s Volleyball
Fordham’s women’s volleyball team finished its 2015 season with a loss to Davidson College. With the loss the Rams’ season ended with an overall record of 8-23. While the team’s performance may not have been great, Fordham will return 10 starters for 2016. Since the student-athletes will be more experienced and share a greater chemistry, better results are bound to occur. The Rams will host their home opener on Aug. 31 against the Jaspers from Manhattan College in the Battle of the Bronx.
