Oct. 6, 2012
Claremont, Calif. -
Leading by just one goal, the Fordham water polo hung tough, killing off two penalties in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter, while goalkepper Noah LeBeau had a career day, as Fordham topped Fresno Pacific, 6-5, at the 2012 Gary Troyer Tournament in Claremont, California.
Fordham opened the game with three quick goals from Nicholas Allen over the first 2:16 of the contest. Allen however would be lost for the rest of the contest, as he was also rolled in the first quarter.
Leading 3-2 after the first, the Rams built the lead to 6-4 after Fresno Pacific took the lead briefly in the second quarter. Landon Kern knotted the game at four, which was followed by goals from Davis DeFontes and Patrick Lenihan to give the Rams a two-goal lead.
Both teams went scoreless in the third with Fresno Pacific closing within one in the fourth quarter on a goal from Daniel Seymour with 5:48 remaining.
Fordham would then be down a man twice in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter, but on each opportunity, Fordham goalkeeper Noah LeBeau came up with the big stop to keep the Rams ahead by one.
LeBeau finished the match tying a career-high with 15 saves.
In the Rams' final match of the tournament, Fordham fell to Pomona-Pitzer by a 13-5 score. With the loss, Fordham finishes its west coast swing at 3-3.
The Rams opened the scoring 2:47 into the match, as Landon Kern scored the first goal of the game, but was matched by Pomona's Ryan Higgins, as the score was 1-1 after the first period.
Pomona then scored six straight goals before Fordham's Allen netted a marker, making it 7-2. Kern would add another goal in the third period, but Pomona led by six, 9-3, entering the final period.
That final frame saw DeFontes and Alex Judge score for Fordham, but it was not enough, as the Rams fell by eight.
In net, Patrick Harrigan and Eric Mullery split the match, with Harrigan posting four saves in the first half, while Mullery had three in the second.
The Fordham water polo team will next be in action on Saturday, October 20th, when the Rams host Mercyhurst at 2:00 PM.
