Sept. 1, 2012

Providence, R.I. - With ten newcomers on the squad, a young Fordham water polo team began its season at the Brown Invitational in Providence, Rhode Island on Saturday. The Rams played three matches on the day, including two against very experienced club teams from Boston and Chicago, which featured former U.S. National Team players and All-Conference performers from the CWPA.

In game one, the Brown Bears netted the first eight goals of the match en route to a 13-5 win over Fordham at the Moran Aquatic Center.

The Bears jetted out to a 5-0 lead by the end of the first quarter, and extended the lead to 8-0 in the second quarter before an extra-strength goal by Fordham's Andrew Gonzalez broke up the run. Daniel Barron also netted a man-up goal in the second quarter as the Rams trailed 9-2 at the half.

The Rams scored the first two goals of the third quarter as Gonzalez netted his second of the game, while Ben Clinkinbeard added the third extra-man goal of the morning, pulling Fordham to within five, 9-4.

Brown though would score four of the next five goals to finish with a 13-5 win.

For Fordham, Gonzalez scored three times in his debut for Fordham. In net Noah LeBeau, played the first half making three saves, while Eric Mullery and Patrick Harrigan split the second half. Mullery had two saves in the fourth quarter, with Harrigan having four saves in the third.

Match two and three on Saturday featured Fordham against two club teams from Boston and Chicago. The first was against Metro Boston WP Club, where the Rams fell by a 13-7 score.

In that game, the Rams trailed by four at the half 6-2, before scoring four times in the third quarter to pull within three, 9-6. In the third, the Rams got goals from Bobby Wurtz, Davis DeFontes, and Nicholas Allen.

However, that was as close as Fordham would get, as Metro Boston score four times in the fourth to finish off the 13-7 match.

For Fordham, DeFontes and Allen each had a pair of goals with Wurtz, Patrick Lenihan, and Alex Judge having one apiece. In net, LeBeau had four saves in the first half, while Harrigan made 10 saves in the second half.

In the final match of the day, Fordham was edged out by the Chicago WP Club, 14-13.

Fordham led into the third quarter, 11-10, on Allen's seventh goal of the game, but Chicago scored twice to end the third quarter ahead by one, 12-11. Chicago then tacked on two more goals in the fourth quarter to take a 14-11 lead. Fordham was able to tally two more goals to close within one with under a minute to play, but the Rams were unable to get the equalizer.

For Fordham, Allen netted eight goals in the game, while DeFontes and Clinkinbeard each had two goals. Barron had the final tally for the Rams. In net, LeBeau made one save in the first half, while Harrigan made seven saves in the second half.

The Fordham water polo team will conclude play at the Brown Invitational with two more matches on Sunday, September 2nd.. The Rams take on Diablo Valley College at 8:00 AM and then St. Francis (NY) College at 11:00 AM.