Bronx, N.Y. – (October 23, 2019) – It looked like it would be a tough night for
Oscar Nomura. Through the first three quarters, the former Wagner Seahawk and current Fordham Ram, had one goal on five shots. However, Nomura came up big with a fourth quarter goal and then the game-winning goal in overtime as the 16
th-ranked Rams topped the Wagner Seahawks, 12-11, at the Col. Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center.
With the win, Fordham improved to 17-5 overall, 5-2 in the MAWPC East Division, while Wagner fell to 4-20 overall, 2-6 in the league.
Wagner jetted out to a 3-1 lead after the first quarter. Fordham knotted the game at three after goals by
Tristen Knoflick and
Jake Miller-Tolt early in the second quarter. The Rams and Seahawks traded goals but Wagner went ahead 5-4 prior to halftime on a marker by Shaked Yacoby.
Tristen Knoflick
The Seahawks maintained that one-goal lead through three quarters at 7-6 but Fordham kept fighting back in the fourth quarter. The Rams tied the game three times in the fourth quarter before Wagner went back ahead 10-9 with 2:27 to go. Then in the final 30 seconds, Fordham drew an exclusion with
Phillip Wang netting the extra-man goal with 18 seconds left to knot the game at 10. Wagner had a final chance in the waning seconds with the extra man but a shot went wide of goal, forcing overtime.
In overtime, the score remained tied until the final seconds when
Dimitris Koukias knocked in a rebound shot for the Rams with nine seconds left to go up 11-10, heading into the final three minutes of overtime.
Wagner would tie game at 11 with 1:35 left on a goal from Matthew Miller, but the Rams would not be denied. Nomura, the ex-Seahawk, scored on the next possession for the Rams, putting Fordham ahead 12-11. The Fordham defense held strong over the final minute, closing out the one-goal victory.
For Fordham, Knoflick led the way with three goals, four steals, and assist, while winning three of the six swimoffs. Miller-Tolt added three goals, two assists, and three steals in the match with Nomura also having three goals. Wang, Koukias, and
Sam Wheeler rounded out the Fordham scoring. In net,
Bailey O'Mara was outstanding with 15 saves including a penalty block.
The Fordham water polo team will next be in action on Wednesday, November 6
th, when the Rams host Iona for the annual Judge Cup game at 7:30 PM.
