Oct. 20, 2012
Bronx, N.Y. -
Despite a school record performance by Fordham's sophomore goalkeeper Noah LeBeau, the Mercyhurst Lakers scored five times in the final period to pull out a come-from-behind 11-8 victory over the Fordham Rams at the Messmore Aquatic Center on Saturday afternoon.
With the loss, Fordham falls to 5-17 on the season, while Mercyhurst improved to 15-5.
The Rams opened the scoring just 34 seconds into the game, when Patrick Lenihan scored his first of four goals on the afternoon. Bobby Wurtz followed with another tally to give Fordham a two-goal lead. After a pair of markers tied the game, Fordham's Alex Judge netted his first goal of the game with 30 seconds left in the period for a 3-2 edge.
The Rams held onto that one-goal lead at the half, leading 5-4, as Lenihan scored two more goals for Fordham, one of which came on a penalty shot.
The game remained low scoring mainly due to the efforts of Fordham's Noah LeBeau, who recorded eight saves in opening period and had 13 by halftime.
In the third quarter, Fordham remained ahead by one at 7-6, as Lenihan and Judge scored back-to-back tallies after Mercyhurst tied the game at five.
In the fourth quarter, Mercyhurst quickly tied the game at seven in the opening minute and then got three straight goals from Brett Luehmann to build up a 10-7 lead. LeBeau tried to keep Fordham in the game, as he approached Timmy Will's school record of 19 saves, which was set in 2008 against Navy. LeBeau would get his record-breaking 20th save in style, stopping a five-meter penalty shot with 1:19 remaining, but Fordham was unable to muster the comeback, falling by three, 11-8.
For Fordham, LeBeau registered a school record 21 saves in goal to go with two assists and a penalty block. Offensively, Lenihan notched four goals and two steals with Judge netting three goals. Wurtz added a goal and an assist with Dan Kearney having two assists and a steal.
The Fordham water polo team will next be in action on Sunday, October 21st, when the Rams travel to Brooklyn to face the St. Francis College Terriers at noon.
