Fordham players celebrate Bart Dziedzic’s game-winning goal. (Tom Lynn photo courtesy of Fordham SID)
MADISON, Wis. — Despite rainy conditions, a change in venue and a two-goal deficit, the No. 15 Fordham University men would not be deterred Monday.
For the second consecutive game, the Rams found a way to win, getting an extratime goal from Bart Dziedzic for a 3-2 victory over Northwestern University in the Wisconsin Invitational.
The Rams improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2006. Northwestern fell to 2-1.
“I am very proud of the team,” Fordham head coach Jim McElderry said. “We competed every second this weekend. We have areas to improve in, but the personality of the team and the leadership from our upperclassmen has been fantastic. Wisconsin and Northwestern are top programs with excellent coaching staffs, so to come away with two wins this weekend is a credit to our players.”
The wild day for the Rams began early, as with constant rain since Friday night, Wisconsin’s grass field was deemed unplayable, forcing both the Fordham-Northwestern and Wisconsin-Valparaiso games to be moved to Madison College’s turf facility.
Northwestern opened the scoring in the 27th minute, as Bardia Kimiavi netted his second goal of the season off an assist by Richie Bennett.
Despite Fordham having a number of corner kicks and a hefty edge in shots to try and tie the game at one, it was the Wildcats who scored the next goal to go up 2-0 in the 63rd minute.
The Rams tallied the goal they needed to get back in the game. With a Northwestern defender possessing the ball, Jack Sluys applied pressure, forcing the defender back into his own six-yard box. Sluys caused a turnover and knocked the ball into the net for his first collegiate goal.
Fordham continued its second-half offensive barrage and was rewarded with a tying goal in the 83rd minute to level the score at 2-2. Janos Loebe crossed the ball into the box to Joergen Oland for a header goal, his first of the season.
In overtime, the Rams again scored on the rush in the 96th minute, as Loebe found Dziedzic in the box for a deflected shot into the goal from 12 yards for the game-winner. It was Dziedzic’s first goal of the season.
Rams goalkeeper Rashid Nuhu finished with two saves, while Northwestern’s Miha Miskovic had three. Following the conclusion of the competition, Loebe, Oland, Andron Kagramanyan, and Sindri Ingimarsson were selected to the all-tournament team.
Fordham travels to Bryant for a Saturday 4 p.m. match.
