Bronx, N.Y. – (September 1, 2023) – The two-time defending MAWPC champion Fordham water polo team gets its 2023 season underway this weekend at the Bruno Classic hosted at Brown University.
The Rams enter the 2023 season at #15 in the national top 20 poll, after winning its second consecutive MAWPC Championship and making a repeat appearance at the NCAA Championship. Fordham returns over 75% (406 goals) of its offense, led by two-time ACWPC Honorable Mention All-American
George Papanikolaou. He finished last season as the Rams' leader in assists (90), points (146), and blocks (13), while being second on the team in goals (56) and steals (49).
Other top returnees include juniors goalkeeper
Thomas Lercari,
Jacopo Parrella, and
Lucas Nieto Jasny. Lercari was a First Team All-MAWPC selection in 2022, while both Silvestri and Nieto Jasny earned Honorable Mention accolades. Parrella was Fordham's leading goal scorer from a year ago with 80 and earned a spot on the MAWPC All-Championship Team.
The Rams will be tested in their opening tournament, the Bruno Classic, facing #11 Pepperdine in the opening match on Saturday, followed by a game with Augustana, while on Sunday, Fordham will face Iona and RV Brown.
GAME COVERAGE
Saturday – 12:00 PM - #15 Fordham vs. #11 Pepperdine –
Live Video (ESPN+) |
Follow on Twitter at @FordhamPolo
Saturday – 4:30 PM - #15 Fordham vs. Augustana –
Live Video (ESPN+) |
Follow on Twitter at @FordhamPolo
Sunday – 1:00 PM - #15 Fordham vs. Iona –
Live Video (ESPN+) |
Follow on Twitter at @FordhamPolo
Sunday – 5:00 PM - #15 Fordham at RV Brown –
Live Video (ESPN+) |
Follow on Twitter at @FordhamPolo
HISTORY: Fordham has history with three of their four opponents this weekend. The opening game will be the first of two matches between Fordham and Pepperdine, as they are also scheduled to meet later this season in October. The two schools have only met once previously in 1979 with the then-#9 Waves defeated Fordham, 13-9.
Fordham and Iona have a longstanding rivalry, highlighted by their Judge Cup games, which began in 2012. Last year, the Rams posted a 20-11 win in the Judge Cup match. The Rams and Gaels have met regularly since 1983 with Fordham winning 10 of the last 11 meetings. Iona's last win in the series came in 2017.
Fordham has not seen Brown since the 2017 season, but had been a regular opponent of the Rams, dating back to the 1970s. The Bears have dominated the all-time series and have won the last 14 meetings, dating back to 2010. Fordham has only one win this century over Brown, an 8-7 decision at the 2009 Eastern Championship.
Saturday will be the first-ever meeting between Fordham and Augustana.
George Papanikolaou
TOUGH TESTS: The tests for the upcoming season come early and often, as Fordham will face nine teams ranked in the preseason national poll, beginning with #11 Pepperdine in the season opener at the Bruno Classic, hosted by Brown, and eventually leading to a match in October with preseason #1, Cal.
50-PLUS: Last season, the Rams' offense set modern day team-bests, registering 529 goals of 34 games and averaging 15.5 goals per contest. Fordham also had six different players register at least 50 goals on the season, which included
Jacopo Parrella (80),
George Papanikolaou (56),
Lucas Nieto Jasny (55),
Luca Silvestri (54),
Christos Loupakis (52) and
Balazs Berenyi (51).
RAMSES CHALLENGE: The Ramses Challenge is back this season. Fans can pledge support for the team in the Ramses Challenge for each goal the water polo team scores this season.
Be a part of the challenge by clicking here.
WHAT'S NEXT: The Rams will head to Princeton next weekend, September 9-10, for the Princeton Invitational, as Fordham will face Chapman, Harvard, and Princeton over the two-day tournament.
