UMass women fall to Fordham

AMHERST, Mass. - Despite overcoming an early 2-0 deficit, the University of Massachusetts was unable to hold off Fordham in overtime, falling 3-2 in Atlantic 10 women's soccer action on Sunday afternoon. The Minutewomen now sit at 3-8-2 overall (2-4-0 A-10) following the setback, while the Rams move to 4-10-1 (3-3-0 A-10).

Fordham notched its first of the game at 17:09. Annie Worden fed Michelle Ancelj in the box and Ancelj poked the ball past UMass netminder Emily Cota (Green Lane, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) from close range.

Minutes later, Ancelj struck again for the Rams, extending the advantage to 2-0. Katie McDermott sent a pass over to Ancelj, who bent a shot from the right inside the far post at 21:38.

With time winding down in the opening half, the Minutewomen's offense began to come alive. After winning possession deep in Fordham territory, junior Therese Smith (Holyoke, Mass./Holyoke) corralled a throw-in from freshman Jenna Goodwin (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth), dribbled around a pair of Rams defenders and fired a shot past Rachel Suther to put UMass on the board at 43:09.

The Minutewomen followed up by continuing to pressure in the second half. In the 76th minute, Smith sent a pass forward to redshirt junior Sydney Stoll (Dedham, Mass./Dedham). Stoll's initial shot in a one-on-one with Suther was stopped by the goalkeeper, but Stoll collected her own rebound and sent it home for the equalizer at 75:37.

UMass had several more scoring chances, but was not able to punch in a third tally before the end of the period, sending the match into overtime. Then in the 98th minute, Leah Loguidice intercepted a pass by a Minutewoman defender and scored on Cota from point blank range.

Fordham finished with a 19-14 shot advantage and led in corner kicks, 5-3. Suther totaled six saves for the Rams, while Cota had two for UMass. Fouls were 6-3 against Fordham.

The Minutewomen return to action next Saturday, Oct. 17, with a home match against Rhode Island at 1 p.m.