Annapolis, Md. – The Fordham water polo team split Saturday's doubleheader to begin its season and the Navy Labor Day Open, falling to #2 UCLA, 15-3, but defeating local rival Iona, 15-7. The Rams are now 1-1 heading into Sunday's contests.
The Bruins shut the Rams out in the first period, 5-0, and scored a sixth midway through the second before Fordham got on the board via
Dimitris Koukias. However, UCLA held them off the board the rest of the period and led, 9-1, at the break.
Skyler Knoflick scored at the five-minute mark of the third and
Yuki Saito notched the team's third with four minutes to play in the match.
The Rams rebounded with a resounding win over the Gaels in the afternoon, going ahead quickly and never looking back.
Phillip Wang got things started and Fordham led, 5-1, by the end of the first period, with five different scorers. That lead became seven, 9-2, by the end of the second frame.
Koukias,
Jake Miller-Tolt,
Joseph Agabs,
Tristen Knoflick, Wang, and
George Maltby all finished with two goals apiece, while
Gordon Rowland and
Sebastian Zapatero each notched one.
The Rams play La Salle and Austin College tomorrow at 9:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m., respectively.