BRONX, N.Y. – The Fordham Water Polo team begins its 2015 campaign this weekend at the Navy Open for the third straight year. The Rams are 6-2 over the past two seasons at the event, falling only to nationally-ranked Navy both years. A Saturday, Sept. 5 morning showdown with the 15th-ranked Midshipmen at 9:20 a.m. will kick off the season before an afternoon tilt with Gannon. On Sunday, Fordham will take on Johns Hopkins, ranked third in the national Division III preseason poll, first at 10:30 a.m., followed by Salem International at 3:30 p.m.
The Rams, under 11th-year head coach
Bill Harris, will be looking to improve upon last year's fourth-place final standing in the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Northern Division and ninth place finish in the CWPA Championship, but will have to do so without three-time All-Division selection and 2014 Honorable Mention All-American goalkeeper
Noah LeBeau. Three Rams will contend for the majority of the time between the pipes: senior
Patrick Harrigan, who played the most back-up minutes last season, or one of two sophomores -
Bryce Charles or
Alex Jahns.
Senior drivers and team captains, David DeFontes and
Bobby Wurtz, will look to lead a solid and experienced squad that features Second Team All-Northern Division selection
R.J. Simmons, who paced the Rams with career-highs of 58 goals, 47 assists, and 105 points, plus senior
Andrew Gonzalez, whose 36 goals last season ranked second on the team. Wurtz returns as the team leader in shot percentage with 21 goals on 50 attempts (42%), while DeFontes was second on the team with 56 steals and added 23 goals and 30 assists of his own.
Graduate student
Ethan Hallowell, a transfer from Stanford University will add experience, speed, and versatility to Harris' attack. Hallowell has also doubled as a NCAA and Olympic qualifier in sprint freestyle swimming. Sophomore driver
Ethan Vandeventer will hope to continue on from his fine freshman form when he compiled 26 goals and 30 assists while playing all 30 games. Coach Harris also brings in a recruiting class of eight freshmen.
Fordham then moves on to the Bucknell Invitational next weekend with another four matches across two days. The Rams will face the hosting Bison, Navy, Mercyhurst, and George Washington.
