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                         August 30, 2002

Women's soccer downs Fordham in exhibition scrimmage

By Mady Salvani
Asst. Dir., Athletic Media Relations

During a flurry of shots late in the Army-Fordham women’s soccer exhibition game, junior forward Adrian Walker connected on a hard shot in lifting the Black Knights to a 1-0 decision in their third and final preseason exhibition game Monday evening at Clinton Field.

Army pulled out a 6-3 come-from-behind win over the University of Ottawa last Wednesday, then battled Central Connecticut State to a 2-2 tie the next day in turning in a 2-0-1 preseason mark.

"I am pleased with our performance tonight as well as in the other two scrimmages," commented head coach Gene Ventriglia, who heads into his 17th year at the helm just two wins shy of his 200th win and is the only soccer coach in Army history.

"We had so many chances to score tonight, but just couldn’t finish until the end. I feel we will be okay just by our performance in the preseason. We can score goals and that is a key for this season’s success. I was very pleased with the defense in the way they dominated and shut down a good team. I have a good feeling about this group."

Walker

The Black Knights held a commanding 33-4 shot advantage, but came up empty due to several near misses in both halves that went wide before Walker punched in the lone goal in the final 12 minutes of play. Eleven of Army’s shots were on goal to the Rams one, snuffed by starter Sarah Johnson. Freshman Morgan Bennett was not called upon to make a save in the second half in combining on the shutout. Army took 16 shots in the first half and 17 coming over the final 45 minutes.

The Black Knights, ranked fourth in the Patriot League preseason poll and eighth in the Northeast Region by Soccer Buzz, open their season this Saturday, Aug. 31, at 7 p.m. when they visit Loudonville, N.Y., to take on the Saints of Siena. Army closes out its trip to upstate New York on Labor Day, Sept. 2, at 1 p.m. against Albany.

FINAL SCORE:

Shots: Fordham 4, Army 33
Corner Kicks: Fordham 1, Army 3
Saves: Fordham 10, Army 1