BRONX, New York – Despite holding a 1-0 advantage at the half, the Marist men's soccer team fell to the Fordham Rams 2-1 on Wednesday night.

SUMMARY:

The Red Foxes opened the scoring early as freshman Allen Gavilanes found space on the left side and fed a cross into the box to sophomore Samad Bounthong who put it home for the 1-0 lead just over 16 minutes into the game. Marist had several more chances in the opening half but couldn't find the back of the net, entering the break leading in shots on goal 5-1. The Rams answered roughly 16 minutes into the second frame with a long ball from their own half of the field over the Red Fox defense that found a runner on the right side who put it home to even the score 1-1. Fordham controlled the momentum following the goal. Twenty minutes later, the Rams got the lead when a Marist clear was collected just outside the box and fed to the right side to an open player who knock it to the far left corner for the 2-1 advantage. The Red Foxes pushed for the late equalizer but couldn't find the final pass to unlock the defense and time expired.

KEY PLAYS:

• Early in the second half and with the 1-0 lead, a Gavilanes free kick from the right side found the head of senior Brendan Gallivan on the far post. His flick on set up a golden chance in front of an open goal with the goalie caught out but a Ram defender was just able to clear it away.
• Shortly after Fordham tied the game, the Rams got a quick counter attack and found a striker alone on a breakaway but senior Mark Rajovic came out of his box and made the 1x1 save to keep it tied.

KEY STATS:

• Marist outshot the Rams 8-4 & 5-1 in shots on goal in the first half but the Rams outshot the Red Foxes 8-2 & 5-1 in the second half.
• Gavilanes' assist on Bounthong's goal gives him four matches with at least one point in just six career games
• Freshman Justin Jaime recorded his first career shot and first career shot on goal in the game
• Both teams had 4 corners on the night

QUOTE:

"Definitely a tale of two halves. I thought we were the better team in the first half by far and we had them on the ropes and didn't knock them out. If we had gotten a second goal it probably would have been a different story. I told the guys before the game and at half time there is a reason this team has played in the NCAA Tournament two out of the last three years. They are well coached, they are hard nosed and they have a lot of character. I thought we were a little unlucky on their first goal with some calls that didn't go our way but we gotta see it out. We didn't find a way tonight and it was disappointing. It wasn't a just result but you gotta find a way to win or at least get points." -- head coach Matt Viggiano. 

UP NEXT:

Marist will wrap up its season long six game road swing with a short trip to the Army West Point Black Knights on Sunday at 7 PM. Last season Marist topped the Black Knights 2-1 on a goal with less than one second left in the game.