In the first meeting between the two Jesuit institutions in 18 years, the Fordham men’s soccer team gave head coach Jim McElderry a game to remember as the Rams took on his alma mater, Fairfield, on Saturday night.  The Rams scored a season-high three times, while Rashid Nuhu made seven saves, as Fordham posted a 3-2 win over Fairfield.

 

The win was the first of the season for Fordham, improving to 1-3-2 on the year, while Fairfield fell to 1-2-3.  The game marked the first time that McElderry faced off against his alma mater, after starring there as a player and serving as an assistant coach for ten years before taking the head coaching job at Fordham.

 

Fordham kicked off the scoring in the 28^th minute of the first half.  Janos Loebe took a corner kick that was headed into the goal by Christopher Bazzini for his first goal of the season.

 

The score was still 1-0 Fordham entering the second half, when Fairfield had a chance to tie the game in the 53^rd minute.  The Stags were awarded a penalty kick after a scrum in front of the net.  Dominic Marshall took the penalty kick but was denied by Fordham goalkeeper Rashid Nuhu to keep the Rams ahead by one.

 

Fordham made it 2-0 in the 72^nd minute, once again off a corner kick.  Gabe Stauber started the action on the corner kick with Matthew Lewis putting a shot wide of goal.  Eric Ohlendorf would pick up the loose ball and put in a cross from 25 yards out, which Kyle Bitterman headed in for his first goal of the season.

 

Fairfield cut the Fordham lead in half in the 79^th minute, as Ben Wignall one-timed in a pass from Jonathan Uy past Nuhu.

 

The Rams regained their two-goal lead in the 84^th minute.  Janos Loebe got loose on a break out to create a 2-on-1 advantage for Fordham, which Andres Penfold finished off following the cross from the left side by Loebe.

 

The Stags would go down fighting, scoring a late goal with 35 seconds left, but Fordham would hold on for the 3-2 win.

 

In goal, Nuhu made seven saves for the Rams, while Matt Turner had six for the Stags.

 

The Fordham men’s soccer team will next be in action on Wednesday, September 23^rd as the Rams host Columbia at 7:00 PM on Jack Coffey Field.