A Rocky Start on the West Coast
Fordham's men's soccer squad opened its season with a 2-0 loss to Santa Clara, slipping to an early 0-1-1 record. The match, played on the West Coast for the first time in program history, tested the Rams' adaptability as they faced a hostile environment and a well-organized opponent.
The deadlock was broken in the 75th minute when Santa Clara earned a penalty kick that shifted momentum. Josmar Guandique capitalized on the opportunity, slotting the ball past the keeper to put the hosts ahead 1-0. The goal appeared to galvanize the home side, but Fordham responded with several chances that fell just short.
In the 79th minute, Guandique added his second marker, sealing a 2-0 lead. Earlier, Kamran Mojabi, a freshman from San Francisco, unleashed a 30-yard strike that was spectacularly saved by Santa Clara's goalkeeper. Elias Betancourt's close-range effort was also denied, and a Marco Cantalapiedra cross forced a shot that rattled the crossbar.
Between the goals, Shayon Kashi made three saves, including his first start in goal for Santa Clara, while freshman Marc-Alexandre Happi Emaga made his collegiate debut, entering the game as a substitute. The match also saw three Fordham players from the Bay Area — Kamran Mojabi, Nicholas Di Sessa of Walnut Creek, and Jason Hsu of San Rafael — take the field, underscoring the team's regional talent pool.
The defeat marks the Rams' third encounter with a West Coast Conference opponent and their second of five consecutive road games to start the season. Despite the loss, the experience offers valuable lessons as the squad prepares for its next test against Bucknell University on August 28, a meeting that will be the sixth between the two programs.