GREELEY, Colo. – In a tightly contested season opener that went down to the wire, Fordham University secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Northern Colorado at Jackson Stadium on Friday night, with Liina Tervo's 89th-minute winner breaking the deadlock in front of 368 fans. The match, which featured 32 total shots and a red card, showcased both teams' attacking intent as they kicked off their 2025 campaigns.
Northern Colorado struck first through Lexi Tuite in the 9th minute, capitalizing on early pressure that saw the Bears dominate the opening exchanges. Tuite's clinical finish, assisted by Brooke Holmberg, came after sustained pressure that included multiple early shots testing Fordham goalkeeper Kyla King. The Bears continued to press their advantage throughout the first half, outshooting Fordham 9-3 and earning four corner kicks. However, Fordham found their equalizer against the run of play when Ava Giudice produced a moment of individual brilliance in the 31st minute, powering through three defenders before unleashing a spectacular 30-yard strike into the top corner to level the score at halftime.
The second half saw Fordham grow into the match, reversing the shot count with an 11-9 advantage after the break. Despite being reduced to 10 players when Ella Guth received a red card in the 88th minute, the Rams showed remarkable resilience. Just moments after going down a player, Tervo latched onto a clever back-heel pass from substitute Lena Johnsen and coolly slotted home from 20 yards to secure all three points. King proved instrumental in preserving the victory, making 9 saves including crucial stops from Tuite and Jolee Irvin in the dying moments. The win gives Fordham (2-1-0) momentum heading into their August 31 home match against Manhattan, while Northern Colorado (1-2-1) will look to regroup when they host Southern Utah on August 28.