If someone looked at the box score and didn’t actually see the game on Friday, they would likely have thought that the Fordham men’s soccer team didn’t lose to Massachusetts, 1-0.  But they would be mistaken.  The Rams three-game-winning streak came to a close with the setback to the Minutemen.

The Rams dominated the stat sheet overall, as they outshot UMass 15-5, took seven corners to the Minutemen’s three and committed seven fouls while forcing UMass to make 16, but they failed to find the back of the net at all in the game.

In the first half hour of action, neither side had any promising scoring chances.  The game was dominated by both defenses, who pressed the opposing offenses and the team with the ball focused on keeping possession.  The Rams had a shot on goal early in the 17^th minute as freshman midfielder; Jack-Tim Murphy lifted a shot at net that Shane Curran-Hays took easily for the save.  The game got physical from there as the Minutemen were whistled for four fouls in the next seven minutes.

UMass went on the offensive in the 32^nd minute when a ball that was lifted into the box was up for grabs and Ryan Curran had contact with David Key.  The referee whistled for the foul and awarded the Minutemen a penalty shot.  On the ensuing kick, Fordham goalie Ryan Meara dove to his left, but his guess was wrong as the Brett Canepa shot went to Meara’s right for a goal.  UMass had a 1-0 lead at the break.

Fordham’s best scoring opportunity came early in the second half.  Senior forward Matt Courtenay, who came in as a sub late in the first half, went on a run down the left side of the pitch and blasted a low, line drive from the top of the 18 yard box, but it went just wide of the net.

From there, UMass dropped eight players back on defense and withstood the Rams attack.  Curran-Hays didn’t have to make any saves in the second half though and UMass won 1-0.

With the loss, Fordham falls to 6-5-1 on the season, and have a 2-1 A-10 record.  The Minutemen improve to 4-9 overall, 2-1 in conference.

The Rams return to action on Sunday, October 16, when they continue their five-game homestand with Rhode Island.  The game is scheduled to begin at 1:00 P.M.

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