Water Polo Places Fifth at CWPA Northern Division Championship

CWPA Northern Division Championship Homepage
 
The Fordham Water Polo team (18-14, 5-7 CWPA) began the CWPA Northern Division Championship this past weekend as the #4 seed but dropped a close 10-7 contest against #5 MIT early Saturday morning, the first match of the weekend. The Rams rebounded with identical 13-6 wins over Connecticut College (1-18, 0-9 CWPA) and Iona (6-17, 3-9 CWPA) to finish in fifth place and with the hope of securing one of the at-large bids to the CWPA Championship in two weeks.
 
Fordham had defeated MIT twice this season, by a combined 23-11 score, coming into the weekend but the Engineers got off to a fast start and never looked back. Andrew Gonzalez, R.J. Simmons, and Magnus Sims all scored twice and Patrick Lenihan added another. Sophomore keeper made 10 stops in net, marking his 12^th match with at least 10 saves.
 
Relegated to the round-robin format to determine the fifth-through-seventh place teams, the Rams rebounded with seven-point victories over the Camels and Gaels.
 
The victory over Connecticut College made it three wins in three tries this season. Continuing a trend from the second-half of the season, seven different players got on the scoreboard for the Rams; Gonzalez, Patrick Reyes, Landon Kern, and Cole Donnelly all scored once. Ethan Vandeventer (2), Lenihan (3), and Simmons (4) provided the main offensive boost for the squad. Jahns made nine saves (15^th contest with 9+ saves this season) in three quarters before giving way to classmate Bryce Charles, who made three stops in his one period of action.
 
Fordham never trailed against Iona, a team that has given the Rams problems this season with both contests going to at least overtime, en route to the 13-6 win. Fordham led comfortably, 6-1, at the half with goals from Simmons (2), Sims (2), Reyes, and Vandeventer. Senior Bobby Wurtz netted his first of the weekend in the third, plus second-half goals from Reyes, Simmons, Lenihan, Kern, Gonzalez, and freshman J.J. Meador. Jahns blocked eight shots in his three quarters, while Charles and senior Patrick Harrigan split the final frame, making two and one save, respectively.
 
Top-seeded hosts Brown University took home the title with a thrilling 14-13 victory over Harvard in sudden death overtime. St. Francis Brooklyn took home the bronze with a win over MIT to round out the automatic bids.
 
Keep following FordhamSports.com and @FordhamRams for information regarding the CWPA Championship in two weeks at MIT in Cambridge, Mass.