The Fordham women’s soccer team opened the home portion of its 2012 schedule on Friday night with its most familiar opponent, the Manhattan College Jaspers. This was the 20th edition of the Battle of the Bronx, and an early tally by Fordham’s Kaitlyn Carballeira held up as the Rams shut out the Jaspers, 1-0, on Jack Coffey Field.
With the win, Fordham improves to 1-2 on the season, while Manhattan is 0-1. The Rams also moved to 12-7-1 all-time against the Jaspers.
The Rams wasted little time getting on the board, as Fordham scored on the first shot of the game. Fordham’s Maria Lorena Canicatti took an early corner kick in the third minute, which found Kaitlyn Carballeira’s head perfectly from two yards out for her first goal of the season.
The Rams followed with more and more pressure, registering the first nine shots of the game before Manhattan had their first in the 42nd minute. Martine Diamond got off a quick shot on the right side, which looked headed for goal, but Ally White came across to the post to knock it away, keeping the Rams ahead by one at the break.
Fordham continued to look for that insurance marker, especially forward Kristina Maksuti, who was credited with eight of her game-high 12 shots in the second half. However, Manhattan goalkeeper Kara Davis kept her team in the game, making four second half saves and seven overall keeping the game a one-goal margin.
The Fordham defense made that one goal hold up, limiting the Jaspers to only three shots in the game with White making two stops for her second career shutout.
The Fordham women’s soccer team will next be in action on Sunday, September 2nd, when the Rams host the Marist Red Foxes at 1:00 p.m. on Jack Coffey Field.
