Yale, Fordham Play Scoreless Tie

by Tim Bennett

September 21, 2012

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Yale men’s soccer team had the right game plan Friday night against Fordham. The Bulldogs just couldn’t get it to result in a goal. As a result, they were forced to settle for a scoreless tie with Fordham on a chilly night at Reese Stadium.

“We tried to catch them with a counter attack, and we did a couple of times,” said Yale head coach Brian Tompkins. “I thought we were just a half a step away.”

Yale (2-3-2) outshot the Rams 11-8 and had the better of the scoring chances.

It was the third straight shutout for the Bulldogs, who haven’t allowed a goal since a 1-0 loss to Fairfield on Sept. 9.

“I loved the way we competed,” Tompkins said. “We worked hard, especially defensively. I think we are really maturing as a team.”

It was apparent early that it might be a low scoring affair. The first shot didn’t come until nearly 15 minutes in when Fordham’s Kalle Sotka took advantage of a turnover and got off a hard shot from 10 yards out that Yale goalkeeper Bobby Thalman stopped. It was the only save that Thalman would have to make.

Yale’s first good scoring opportunity came late in the first half when Scott Armbrust sent a long cross that Avery Schwartz got his head on, but Fordham goalkeeper Sean Brailey snared it.

Armbrust set up another chance midway through the second half. He sent a nifty ball forward into the box to Tony Wilbar, who took a quick dribble and got off a hard, low shot that Brailey stopped.

Neither team generated much offense in the two, 10-minute overtime periods.

“It was a cat and mouse kind of game,” Tompkins said. “Both teams defended well. I thought we had the edge in good scoring chances.”

It was the third shutout of the season for the Rams (3-3-1).

The Bulldogs continue a busy stretch with a game Sunday at Marist at 1 p.m. They then host No. 2 UConn on Tuesday at Reese Stadium at 7 p.m.