Lewisburg, Pa. – In a match-up of top 20 teams, the Fordham Rams and Bucknell Bison had first place on the line on Sunday, as each went 3-0 in MAWPC action last weekend. The game and tension between the two teams lived up to the billing, as Cooper Dolan score the only goal of overtime, giving the Bison a 9-8 win at Kinney Natatorium in Lewisburg, Pa.
With the loss, Fordham goes to 7-4 on the year, 3-1 in the MAWPC, while Bucknell improved to 8-6 overall, 4-0 in the league.
Each team scored two goals in the first three periods, leading to an exciting fourth quarter all tied at six. Fordham took a 7-6 lead with 6:30 remaining, when
Massimiliano Mirarchi scored his fourth goal of the game. Bucknell tied the game at seven with 5:07 left, but it was Fordham getting the lead back with under a minute to play.
Ian Watson scored with just 33 seconds remaining to give Fordham an 8-7 lead. However, Mirarchi was called for his third exclusion with 15 seconds on the clock, giving the Bison a man-up advantage. Jared Stanley then scored on that advantage to knot the game at eight, forcing overtime.
Bucknell's Cooper Dolan scored the only goal of overtime with 18 seconds left in the first three-minute session, completing a hat trick for Dolan.
For Fordham, Mirarchi had four goals and an assist, while Watson had two goals and two blocks.
Jake Miller-Tolt had a goal, two assists, and two steals with
Tristen Knoflick having the other marker. In net,
Alex Jahns had eight stops, as the Rams' held defending Player of the Year Rade Joksimovic without a goal.
The Fordham water polo team will next be in action on October 5
th, as the Rams head west for their annual trip to California for the Gary Troyer Tournament in Claremont, California. The Rams open with Redlands and Mt. San Antonio on Thursday.
