Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan women's soccer team dropped its 2012 season opener Friday falling 1-0 at Fordham in the 20th meeting of the "Battle of the Bronx" rivalry. Fordham (1-2) preserved a one goal advantage after scoring 2:55 into the contest to earn its first victory of the year.
With six players making their Manhattan debut, the Jaspers struggled to find an offensive rhythm and test Rams' goalkeeper Ally White. White secured her first shutout of the season making two saves on three Manhattan shots. On the opposite side of the field, Fordham peppered Jaspers' senior goalkeeper Kara Davis with 19 shots, eight were put on goal.
Fordham wasted little time to get on the scoreboard as less than three minutes into the contest Rams' junior Kaitlyn Carballeira placed a header into the back of the net. It was Rams' sophomore midfielder Maria Lorena Canicatti's corner kick that set up the goal, Carballeira's first of the season.
Davis came up with four of her game high seven saves in the second half to help keep Manhattan in striking distance. On the offensive end the Jaspers fired five of their seven corner kicks in period, but could not capitalize on the opportunities. Manhattan junior midfielder Aislinn McIlvenny, a transfer from Charleston Southern, had her shot attempt in the 64th minute saved by White. Then in the 73rd minute, Jaspers' senior Brittany Egan was wide left on another attempt to tie the match.
Manhattan has a short turnaround before its next match on Sunday when the Jaspers travel to Delaware State. Kick off is slated for 3 p.m.
