The Fordham men’s soccer team returned home to Jack Coffey Field to face the Marist Red Foxes on Wednesday night and the two teams combined for a double-overtime, scoreless tie.  For Rams’ senior goalie, Ryan Meara, the clean sheet was the 26^th shutout in his college career, leaving him one shy of the all-time Fordham record of 27, which is held by Jeff Knuth.

 

It was a tale of two halves for the Rams, as they staggered on offense out of the gate, taking just two shots on goal in the first forty-minutes of play.  The Red Foxes tried to grab an early lead in the second minute, but a ball in front of the Rams’ net was cleared from danger by Michael Stalker.  In the 18^th minute, Krystian Witkowski launched a shot on net that Meara caught for the first of six saves he had in the game.

 

Fordham’s first shot on goal came in the 36^th minute as senior John Niyonsaba lifted a shot that Steve Skonieczny careened for the save.  Niyonsaba led Fordham with five shots in the contest.

 

He had another shot on goal in the 41^st minute that went well over the crossbar.  The two Niyonsaba sorties were the only ones the Rams had in the first half.

 

Fordham made a formation change at the half and had several scoring chances as a result.  Niyonsaba got a head to the ball early in the frame, but Skonieczny made another save.  From there, first-half substitute, Julian Nagel, who also took four shots in the contest, let go a volley in the 50^th minute that went wide.  Ten minutes later, his ball was blocked.

 

The Red Foxes tested Meara in the 68^th minute.  Stephan Brossard, who leads Marist in goals, assists and points, let go a blast that Meara caught and held for the save.

 

The Rams had a golden opportunity in the 70^th minute as Niyonsaba dribbled around a couple of defenders and lofted a line drive that went inches above the crossbar.  Regulation would end in a scoreless tie.

 

The first overtime saw the Red Foxes nearly put the game away in the 96^th minute.  Brossard was in the Fordham end, to the left of Meara, and he let go a shot that beat the keeper, but went hi and just wide of the goal.  The game went into a second overtime from there.

 

In the second ten minutes of action, both teams had several shots, but nothing that put either keeper in peril.  The game ended in a scoreless tie.  Fordham now has a 3-3-1 record on the season, while Marist is now 4-2-2.

 

The men’s soccer team returns to the road on Tuesday, September 27, when they travel to Uniondale, New York for a date with Hofstra.  The start time is scheduled for 7:00 P.M.