Bronx, NY – (August 17, 2022) – The 2022 women’s soccer season begins this week, and the Fordham Rams are ready to hit the pitch to begin their 30th season of varsity play. On opening night, the Rams head out to Long Island for a match with Stony Brook on Thursday, while Sunday will see Fordham travel to Staten Island for an afternoon match with Wagner.
Fordham begins a new chapter in its history this week under a new head coach Magnus Nilerudas well as having 14 newcomers on the roster.
For the Rams’ opponents in week one, Stony Brook also begins a new era on Thursday, as they begin playing as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). The Seawolves were picked 10th in the 12-team league with Catharina von Drigalski earning Preseason All-Conference Honorable Mention honors.
Game two of 2022 will see the Rams meet the Wagner Seahawks, who were picked fifth in the Northeast Conference preseason poll. The team is led by 2021 NEC First Team All-Conference selection Madison Carr, who led the NEC with nine goals.
GAME COVERAGE:
Thursday – Fordham at Stony Brook – 6:00 PM – Live Video (FloFC) | Live Stats | Follow the team on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram – @FordhamWoSoc
Sunday – Fordham at Wagner – 1:00 PM – Live Video (NEC Front Row) | Live Stats | Follow the team on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram – @FordhamWoSoc
SERIES HISTORY: This will be the 15thth meeting between Fordham and Stony Brook with the Rams holding an 8-5-1 record against the Seawolves. The last two meetings both went Stony Brook’s way, as each ended in overtime (2019 – 1-0; 2014 – 3-2), while Fordham’s last win over the Seawolves came in 2011.
For Sunday, it will be the tenth all-time meeting for Fordham and Wagner with the Rams holding an 8-0-1 all-time mark against the Seahawks. The teams last met in 2015, where Fordham took home a 2-0 win in a neutral site tournament at Maine.
SEASON OPENERS: In season opening matches, Fordham has had a mixed bag of results, posting an 11-15-3 mark. The Rams fell to Colgate, 1-0, in the 2021 opener and are looking for their first season-opening win since 2017.
TEAM CAPTAINS: The Fordham women’s soccer team made its selections for team captains for the 2022 season, as seniors Kristen Cocozza and junior Cambrie Arboreen will wear the captain armbands.
Cocozza has never missed a game in her three seasons at Fordham and has been a staple on the Atlantic 10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll. A 2019 Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team selection, she has earned a pair of weekly awards from the league and has been a timely scorer for the Rams with three game-winning goals.
“Kristen’s experience on and off the field as a Ram was a natural choice to lead the program into its new chapter,” said the head coach. Magnus Nilerud.
Like Cocozza, Arboreen has been named to the Atlantic 10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll in each of her first two years at Fordham and has shown to be a shining example to follow at Rose Hill.
“Cambrie is a natural leader and everything you want as an ambassador of the program,” said Nilerud.
BACK FOR ANOTHER ROUND: The Rams’ top scorer from a year ago is back in senior Caitlin Kennedy. A two-time Atlantic 10 Player of the Week, Kennedy netted a career-high five goals and 11 points in 2021. She was the first Ram to have at least five goals since Brooke Salmon notched six in 2016.
FOREIGN IMPORTS: The Rams have spread their recruiting across the globe with five internationals on the team in 2021, representing Ireland (Maria O’Sullivan), Canada (Tristan McFarlane), Israel (Tal Faingezicht), Sweden (Ellen Schedin), and Norway (Natalie Velde). Fordham also has international experience Danielle Etiennewho has seen time with the Haitian National Team, and Serena Mensahwho played with the Jamaican National Team at the 2022 Concacaf U-20 Championship.
RAMSES CHALLENGE: As a part of a new fundraising challenge this season, fans can pledge support for the team in the Ramses Challenge for each goal the women’s soccer team scores this season. Be a part of the challenge by clicking here.
WHO’S NEXT: The Rams are in action twice next week, traveling to Dartmouth on Friday, August 26thwhile opening their home schedule on Thursday, September 1Stagainst Hofstra.