Fordham women’s soccer fell to the University of Albany (UA) Great Danes by a score of 1-0 on Sunday, Sept. 10. The loss dropped the team’s record to 2-4-1 and marks the latest in a string of defeats for the team, as they have not won a match since their win against Stonehill College on Aug. 24.
With dark skies looming overhead, both teams struggled to find their footing at the start of the match. In the first 20 minutes of play, neither team launched any threatening offensives. A pair of corner kicks by the Great Danes represented the most dangerous opportunities for either team in the opening segment of the contest.
It did not take long for the competition to heat up. In the 21st minute of the game, the Rams connected a number of quick passes to push their way up the field. The ball ultimately landed at the feet of Sari Frankl, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’27, who fired a shot from just over 20 yards from the goal. Although the attempt sailed wide, it signaled a shift in the tempo of the match.
UAlbany rapidly moved into Fordham’s half of the field after the ensuing goal kick. A misplayed ball by defender and captain Olivia Redden, Gabelli School of Business at Rose Hill (GSBRH) ’24, left goalkeeper Kyla King, FCRH ’26, completely out of position. As she scrambled back toward the goal, Selma Elverum, UA ’26, darted toward the center of the box with eyes on the back of the net. Luckily, Emily Crocco, Gabelli Graduate School of Business ’24, sprinted back to impede Elverum’s effort, blocking the attempted shot and sending the ball harmlessly out of bounds.
Fordham was not out of the woods yet. Just three minutes later, a nifty through ball to Ashley Ladner, UA ’24, caught King well out of her net. Ladner attempted to chip the ball over King and into the empty goal, but the shot drifted just feet outside of the goalpost.
Hoping to move on from the tense defensive lapses in the prior minutes, Fordham tried to generate momentum of its own. In the 31st minute, the Rams tested UAlbany’s goalkeeper, Megan Hart, UA ’24. The shot by Sidney Nicholas, GSBRH ’26, was from well outside of the box, however, and Hart handled it with ease.
As the first half wound down, Fordham threatened the Great Danes once more. Starting deep in their own side of the field, the Rams worked their way toward the opposing goal. A well-placed cross found the feet of Nicholas but following pressure from the Great Danes’ defense, the ball ended up with Ellen Schedin, FCRH ’25. Schedin fired the ball toward the bottom right corner of the goal, forcing Hart to make a diving save, leaving the game tied at zero at halftime.
The Rams began the second half off with a marvelous pass upfield that found Riley Carroll, FCRH ’27, blazing down the right side of the field. Now in a dangerous position, Carroll took a shot at a shallow angle that was easily dealt with by Hart, but missed her teammate wide open in front of the net awaiting a cross.
The Great Danes capitalized on this missed opportunity. In the 57th minute, UAlbany delivered the pivotal moment of the game. A perfectly placed free kick from about 40 yards out by Charlotte Takacsy, UA ’24, connected with 5-foot-10 defender Devon Schmitt, UA ’24, who sent a header into the corner of the goal past a leaping King.
Fordham’s best chance to respond for the rest of the match came in the 61st minute. On a free kick of its own, the swinging cross resulted in a header by Lena Johnsen, FCRH ’27 and a midfielder for the Rams. She failed to generate much power on the shot, but Hart failed to corral it, leading to a frenzy in front of the net. Almost immediately following the header, however, the whistle blew and the Rams were deemed offsides, neutralizing their threatening play.
Despite its best efforts, Fordham went the rest of the game without another shot on goal. The scoreboard read 1-0 when the final whistle blew, cementing the continuation of the losing streak.
The Rams will begin Atlantic 10 play next week and despite the lackluster results, there may be hope for improvement going forward. Fordham out-shot the Great Danes 10 to 8, with three of its shots being on goal. This differential shows a vast improvement from the team’s game against Columbia University a few days prior on Sept. 7, when they fell 2-0 and only attempted four total shots.
Fordham will aim to turn things around on Sept. 14 against George Mason University. The match will be played in the Bronx at Moglia Stadium at Jack Coffey Field and will be broadcast on MSG Networks.
