Water Polo Captures Highest Finish at Easterns Since 1987 With 8-7 Win Over Brown

Nov. 22, 2009

Cambridge, Mass. - In a re-match of the Northern Division Championship game, it turned out to be third times the charm, as Fordham's Ali Arat scored four goals to lead five Fordham scorers as the Rams knocked off Brown University, 8-7, in the fifth place game of the 2009 Eastern Championship in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The placement marks the highest finish by Fordham in 22 years as the Rams had not qualified for the championship since 1987. It was also Fordham's first win over Brown since 1980.

After falling to Brown in the previous two encounters this season, the key to the game was Fordham's ability to stifle the Bears' man-up scoring chances without a shot, as Brown converted on just 1-of-10 advantage opportunities in the game, including one-of-three chances in which the team was capable of uncorking a shot against Fordham goalie Christian Flessner, who finished with three saves on the day.

Fordham never trailed in the game opening up a 2-0 lead in the first period on a pair of scores by Arat at 6:45 and 1:34 to take the lead for good. Brown halved the margin 1:04 into the second period with a blast by Corey Schwartz, but the Rams pushed back with a man-up tally by Andrew Dentinger at the 5:23 mark to make it 3-1.

The exchange continued throughout the period until Victor Bautista Medina and Arat tallied back-to-back scores at 2:38 and 1:44, respectively, to build the margin to 6-2. Brown answered with consecutive scores by Schwartz and Gordon Hood with 1:29 and 36 seconds left in the second period to make it 6-4 at the break.

Andrew Dentinger had one tally in his final game as a Ram.

Both teams found the cage in the third period as Andrew McKernin added the Rams' seventh goal and Hood pumped twice and scored the Bears' fifth goal to keep Fordham in front by two at 7-5 through 24 minutes of play.

Arat closed the deal for Fordham 1:52 into the fourth period with his fourth and the Rams' final score of the day to make it 8-5, a deficit which the Bears could not overcome with the clock winding down.

Brown attempted to rally back as Dean Serure netted a man-up goal at 5:44 and Hood dumped in an even-strength goal with 4:14 to play, but the Rams' defense held firm the rest of the way to protect the lead and earn the victory.

The game was a rematch of the Northern Division title game as the Rams avenged an 8-7 defeat at the hands of the Bears across town at Harvard University. In addition, Fordham locked up its first back-to-back winning seasons since the 1987 and 1988 seasons as the Rams finish the season at 16-14.

Following the title game, Arat was honored with the tournament's Rookie Award, an honor awarded to a player competing in his first Eastern Championship, as well as First Team All-Tournament.

Fordham Goals: Ali Arat (4); Victor Bautista Medina; Andrew Dentinger; Andrew McKernin; Daniel Munoz

Brown Goals: Gordon Hood (3); Corey Schwartz (2); Dean Serure; Brandon Yoshimura

Saves: Fordham - Christian Flessner (3) ; Brown - Kent Holland (5)

Advantage Opportunities: Fordham - 2-for-7 ; Brown - 1-for-10