Water Polo Splits Pair of Conference Matches

Bronx, N.Y. – (September 28, 2019) – The 16^th-ranked Fordham water polo team earned a split of their MAWPC East matches on Saturday afternoon at the Col. Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center.
 
In the first match of the day, the Rams took an 8-5 lead into the fourth quarter, but four goals by Andras Levai in the final frame gave #19 George Washington a 9-8 win over the Rams.
 
Fordham built a 4-2 lead by halftime in a fairly tight contest between the two ranked opponents, as Fordham's Jake-Miller Tolt had three of Fordham's four goals with the other belonging to Oscar Nomura.
 
The Rams then increased the lead with a four-goal third quarter, as Miller-Tolt, Tristen Knoflick, Dimitris Koukias, and Jason Hiremath each scored, making it an 8-5 game.
 
Fordham though could not find an answer to Levai in the fourth quarter, netting four markers, the last with 4:08 to go in the game.  The Rams would have a final chance at an equalizer, but Nomura's shot with under six seconds left deflected away.

 
For Fordham, Miller-Tolt finished with four goals, two steals, and an assist, while Nomura had a goal and an assist.  Koukias added a goal, a steal, and two blocks, with Quinn Wagner having a pair of assists.  In net, Bailey O'Mara finished with 15 saves, seven of which came in the first quarter.
 
In match two, a six-goal outburst in the third quarter by the Rams turned into a 16-11 win over Johns Hopkins.
 
Fordham led 7-6 at the half with Johns Hopkins tying the game at seven early in the third quarter.  The Rams rallied with four consecutive goals, two of which came from Koukias, for an 11-7 lead.  Fordham would not relinquish that lead, coming away with the 16-11 win.
 
For the Rams, Miller-Tolt netted a team-high five goals to go with two assists with Koukias added three tallies.  Joseph Agabs had a goal, four assists, and two steals with Philip Wang coming away with three goals and an assist.  Other goal scorers included Tristen Knoflick, Nomura, Sam Wheeler, and Wagner.  In net, O'Mara finished with 13 saves and two steals.
 
Fordham is now 10-3 on the season, 3-1 in the MAWPC East Division.
 
The Fordham water polo team will now get set for their annual trip to California, October 4-6, which includes playing in the Gary Troyer Invitational.