POUGHKEEPSIE, New York - The Marist women's soccer team won their first game of the season against Fordham in a 2-1 decision at Tenney Stadium on Thursday evening. 
 
Fordham struck first in the contest with less than a minute until halftime, but the Red Foxes evened it up 33 seconds later thanks to senior defender Riley Abate. A second-half goal from junior forward Brooke Cergol at the 68-minute mark proved to be the game-winner.
 
The result improves the Red Foxes to 1-2 on the season, as the Rams fall to 1-4. 
 
Marist earns its first win under Head Coach Brittany Kolmel in her first game at Tenney Stadium.
 
The Red Foxes dominated the second half, having most of the possession while outshooting the Rams 7-5 in the second half.
 

first half

• Fordham applied pressure early on in the match as Emma Johnson's shot just missed the top right corner just one minute into the game. Kristen Cocozza shot a screamer that was easily saved by senior goalkeeper Natalie Kelchner in the third minute.
• Fordham had three shots on goal before Marist's first shot on goal by Leah Barbieri at the 18:47 mark.
• Marist missed multiple opportunities to capitalize with both of sophomore midfielder Chance Hendricks' shots in the 28th and 31st minutes.
• Fordham's goal came as Caitlin Kennedy's shot just inside the box bounced off the left goalpost and into the back of the net to give the Rams a 1-0 lead.
• Marist struck back immediately – sophomore forward Bridget Dudziec's cross from the right side of the field went right to Abate, who scored a screamer that hit off the crossbar just crossed the goal line to tie the game at 1-1 heading into halftime. The goal would be the first Red Fox goal of the 2021 season.

 

second half

• The Red Foxes pressured the Rams early in the second half.  Brooke Cergol just missed a turnaround shot that went over the crossbar in the 53rd minute. 
• After an injury stoppage in the 60th minute, graduate defender Deanna Lomino missed a header wide left of the goal after a well-placed corner kick from Dudziec.
• The Marist defense picked up in the second half, holding Fordham to only one shot on goal through the first 21 minutes of the second half.  In the 67th minute, Caitlin Kennedy shot from the top of the box, but the shot was easily collected by Kelchner.
• In the 68th minute, Lomino booted the ball from midfield up Cergol, who was able to poke the ball and sneak it under Fordham goalie Serena Mensah as it slowly rolled into the back of the net to give the Red Foxes a 2-1 lead.
• Marist goalie Natalie Kelchner came up big late in the game with a huge diving save at the left side of the goal with just two minutes left in the contest to preserve the win.

 

stats

• Dudziec and Lomino were credited with assists.
• Hendricks led the team with four shots, while Cergol had three shots off the bench. 
• Kelchner had a season-high six saves in the win, with 13 shots faced.
• Despite the win, Marist was outshot by Fordham 13-12.  Fordham also outshot Marist with 7 shots on goal compared to Marist's three shots on goal. 
• The Red Fox defense was huge in the second half, allowing Fordham no corner kicks in the second half.

 

notes

• Abate and Cergol collected their first-career goals, while Dudziec notched her first collegiate point.
• Lomino earned her first point as a Red Fox.
• Marist has now won six straight home openers, dating back to 2015.
• The victory comes nine years to the day that the Red Foxes last beat Fordham on September 2nd, 2012. It was Marist's first win over the Rams in Poughkeepsie.
• This marks the Red Foxes' first non-conference triumph since September 8th, 2019.
• Hendricks and redshirt senior defender Britt Van Lenten made their first appearances in the starting XI.
• Fordham now leads the all-time series 3-2.

 

up next

The Red Foxes will have a ten-day break before they head up north to Orono, ME to take on Maine in a non-conference matchup on Sunday, September 12th at 1 p.m.