Despite a much-improved performance in their second game of the season, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC)’s soccer club fell to 0-2 in the Metro Soccer League.

The FCLC team lost to Brooklyn FC 2 by a score of 2-1. This outcome comes in sharp contrast to the team’s first game of the season, in which they were beaten soundly by FC United 5-2.

The team showed plenty of rust in their first match of the year, missing open passes, committing numerous turnovers and never really seeming to be in sync with each other, leading to a 3-0 deficit at the end of the first half.

However, the squad showed flashes of brilliance as they played a much more inspired second half. Fordham alum Steven Rey, FCLC ’11 opened the second half with a blast past a diving goalie. He would also tack on a second goal, another shot past a diving keeper, on a beautiful feed through defenders from team co-captain David Wall, FCLC ’12.

The problem was the team meshed too little too late. The high tempo offense they played in the second half left their defense susceptible to many breakaways. Each goal Fordham scored was soon matched by an FC United goal.

In their second game Fordham looked much more prepared. They jumped out to an early lead against Brooklyn FC 2 on a chip shot goal. The team’s rhythm was much better as they completed crisp passes, tackled well and got many shots on goal. However, the one goal was all Fordham would manage.

Brooklyn FC 2 scored right before the half on a rebound after co-captain Diana Kokoszka, FCLC ’12, made a great save. The second goal for Brooklyn FC 2 came early in the second half, as a scramble for the ball in front of Fordham’s net left an opening. Fordham could not recover and would trail for the rest of the game, despite having numerous opportunities to rebound.

Wall said of the team’s performance, “We had a lot of good chances and we played really well, we just couldn’t get the equalizer. Though, it’s definitely a big improvement from the first game. We’re going to just get stronger as the season goes on. As fitness goes up and as people get more comfortable playing with each other again we’ll be up and running. And we’ll be able to put up some challenges. Certainly if not this season then in the winter and spring seasons.”

One of the biggest weaknesses of the team has been the lack of a truly experienced goalie. In the first game Fordham alum Misha Kollntai, FCLC ’11, who usually plays forward, started in goal and Kokoszka, usually a left back, started in goal in the second game. Fordham’s usual goalie, Hussein Sayed, FCLC ’12, has not been able to make the games, so the team has had to make due without him.

This timing issue has been the cause of many of the problems in the first two games, as not everyone on the team has been able to make practices and games. Wall said, “It’s not that a person’s not committed; it means they have something else to do. The first two games obviously have been a disappointment but we really haven’t been able to do a lot of fitness training and actual training because of scheduling conflicts. I don’t think the results have been a reflection on how the team’s been playing but more a reflection on our fitness.”

The 0-2 start has left FCLC in an almost insurmountable hole, as they would realistically have to win out to capture the league title. When asked about the team’s chances to win the fall league, Wall said, “I wouldn’t count on it for this fall season. It is kind of a transitional period [for the winter and spring] but that doesn’t mean we’re not going to try and win games. Hopefully we can turn it into a title challenge.”