Water Polo Knocks Off Navy for Historic Overtime Win

Annapolis, Md. – It was a historic day for the Fordham water polo  team on Sunday, as Cole Donnelly's goal with 29 seconds remaining in overtime proved to be the difference maker, as the Rams defeated the Navy Midshipmen, 14-13, in Annapolis, Maryland.
 
It was the Rams' first-ever win over Navy in 25 all-time meetings with both squads having varsity status.  Fordham had defeated Navy in 1981, but it was before the Midshipmen had been designated as a varsity squad with the NCAA.  The win also evens Fordham's record at 5-5 on the season, and 2-1 in the Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference
 
The game was about as even and even could be, as it was tied at three after the first quarter and at six after the third quarter.
 
In the fourth quarter with the score tied at eight, Fordham took a 9-8 lead before Navy scored on a five-meter penalty shot.  The Midshipmen then took a 10-9 lead on a goal by Jared Castillo with 52 seconds left in regulation.  After exchanging possessions, Fordham had one final chance to tie the game with 11.1 seconds left.  Senior R.J. Simmons delivered, as he lofted a shot into the top right corner of the goal to tie the game at 10 and force overtime.

 
Navy got on top 12-11 after the first three minutes over overtime, but Fordham tied the game at 12 with 1:44 left in the second three-minute session on a goal by Jake Miller-Tolt.  Simmons then put Fordham on top with an extra-man goal with 1:02 remaining.
 
Navy would not go away, as the tight match continued with a goal by Nik Galvan to knot the game at 13 and just 47 seconds left.  The Rams though would not be denied their chance at history.  Cole Donnelly netted the game-winning goal with 29 seconds on the clock.  The Fordham defense held off Navy's last chance, pulling out the 14-13 victory. 
 
For Fordham, Miller-Tolt and Simmons each had four goals to lead the attack, with Miller-Tolt adding two assists and three steals.  Donnelly added an assist to his game-winning goal, while Grant Keesling, Magnus Sims, Diego Delgado, Cameron Shewchuck, and Tristen Knoflick each had one goal.  In net, Alex Jahns posted eight saves, including a penalty block, while tacking on five steals and an assist.
 
The Fordham water polo team will next be in action on Saturday, October 1^st, when the Rams host Johns Hopkins at noon and Bucknell at 7:00 PM at the Colonel Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center.