The Fordham men’s soccer team headed into its second-to-last weekend trying to jockey for position in the Atlantic 10 standings, and they got off to an inauspicious start on Friday with a 2-1 loss to Saint Louis.  The Rams fell to 7-6-1 overall, and 3-2 in the A-10.  The Billikens are 5-7-1, but sport an identical 3-2 conference ledger.

The game got off slowly as both teams concentrated on possessing the ball and not allowing the opposing side any scoring chances early.  The play was physical through nearly the first 30 minutes and neither side mustered any decent scoring chances until Saint Louis had a go at the goal late in the 29^th minute.

In transition, the Billikens took the ball off a turnover at midfield and went into the Fordham end where Raymond Lee blasted a shot that forced Ryan Meara to dive to his left to make the save.  The score remained deadlocked at zero.

Almost three minutes later exactly, it was the Rams’ turn as Fordham pushed deep into the Billikens end where a back pass to Nathaniel Bekoe gave him an open look at the goal.  He unleashed a blast from about 30 yards out and Nick Shackelford made one of his seven saves in the game.  The game remained scoreless at halftime.

Early into the second half, Saint Louis jumped out to a 1-0 lead.  Less than a minute into the half, the Billikens’ Robbie Kristo dumped a ball into the 18-yard box that seemed to bounce around before coming to the foot of Jon Roeckle.  Roeckle calmly trickled the ball past Meara for the game’s first marker.

Saint Louis would extend their advantage less than five minutes later.  The goal was set up by another cross from Kristo, but this pass got to William Hidalgo who beat Meara just inside the far post.  The Billikens had a 2-0 lead less than seven minutes into the second half.

Fordham pushed the offense from there and they would be rewarded in the 73^rd minute.  On the far side of the pitch, Michael Stalker brought the ball down and centered it into traffic in the penalty box.  Through the chaos, Jack-Tim Murphy got to it and beat the keeper for the Rams’ first goal.  That brought the score to 2-1 for Saint Louis.

Fordham continued to press the ball forward for the final 20 minutes of action, but they were never presented with another scoring chance and the Billikens held on for the 2-1 win.  In the game, Fordham outshot Saint Louis 14-8.  Murphy led the Rams with three shots.  His goal was his second of the season, while Stalker picked up his first assist.

The men’s soccer team gets a brief respite before they return to action on Sunday, October 23, when they welcome the #11 Charlotte 49ers into Jack Coffey Field.  The game is scheduled for 1:00 P.M.

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