The University of Rhode Island women’s soccer team moved into fourth place in the Atlantic 10 Conference with a shutout victory over Fordham University on Thursday, Oct. 2, followed by a scoreless tie on the road against the University of Richmond on Sunday.
The win against Fordham was highlighted by goals from Rams second-year Kyra Samalonis and third-year Nika Jacobs. The goal from Samalonis came in the 17th minute, and the goal from Jacobs was in the 56th. Both were the first of their respective collegiate careers.
URI held a Fordham team, whose 2.09 goals per game entering the night ranked second in the A-10, scoreless for just the second time all season. Fordham second-year Liina Tervo, the conference’s second-ranked goal scorer entering play, managed just two shots on goal.
“They have a very good front line,” URI Head Coach Megan Jessee said. “But we thought, from our midfield and our backs, I thought we matched up very well. I think it’s just because we were attacking so much and had so much of the ball that they really couldn’t get on it and create anything.”
This game also marked the seventh shutout of the season for third-year goalkeeper Dani Eden. The Drexel University transfer recorded a clean sheet in her first collegiate start against Richmond last season, but suffered a season-ending injury in that same game. Now, in her first full season in Kingston, Eden has joined a historic list. Following the two matches this week, she has tied the URI all-time single-season record for shutouts with eight.
“Coming off a season-ending injury…it’s very hard,” Eden said. “I was very unfit coming in. [I] just had to grind through [and] prove that I was going to get the starting spot.”
Through 13 games of play, Eden leads the conference in save percentage at .872. Her six goals allowed this season are the fewest of any goalkeeper in the A-10. The Rams as a team are allowing an average of 0.54 goals per game, a figure that also tops the conference.
“She’s been very solid, very consistent back there,” Jessee said. “It just helps everyone be able to do their jobs defensively. We know that she’ll be able to bail us out when we need her to and make a big save here and there. It gives the whole team so much more confidence when you know you have that consistent presence back there.”
Eden’s late-game save against the Spiders on Sunday preserved the scoreless tie, which was Rhody’s first draw all season and second time being shut out. The Rams attempted 14 shots, with five on target, to go along with six corner kicks. However, they would never net the elusive goal.
The weekend solidified this Rams team as one of the best in recent program history. The win over Fordham guaranteed their first .500 or better season since 2014. Fourth-year McKenna Sylvester, third-year Lauren MacDonald and fourth-year Mie Carstensen all reached double figures in points in the past week with 14, 11 and 10, respectively. They’re the first trio of Rhody teammates with double-digit points since 2012.
The Rams’ lone match this week will be a home game against Davidson College on Sunday at noon. The game will be available over the radio on RIU2.
