Providence, R.I. – (September 2-3, 2023) – The 15
th-ranked Fordham water polo team got its season underway this weekend at the Bruno Classic, hosted by Brown University in Providence, R.I.
The Rams had a mixed bag of results, recording a 2-2 record in four matches. Here is a brief recap of each game.
GAME 1 - #11 Pepperdine 16, #15 Fordham
In a battle of two of the top 15 teams in the country, the match was an even contest early on, trading goals back-and-forth for a 3-3 score after the first quarter. Pepperdine snuck ahead by two at halftime, 8-6, before Fordham tied the game at eight early in the third quarter on goals by
Paul Armingol and
Luca Silvestri. However, a six-goal surge by the Waves put the game out of reach for the Rams.
For Fordham,
George Papanikolaou posted two goals, three assists, and three steals, while Silvestri and
Balazs Berenyi each had a pair of markers. In net,
Riccardo Di Giuseppe had five saves.
GAME 2 – #15 Fordham 25, Augustana 8
An early blitz of scoring by the Rams in the first quarter that saw six different Fordham players score put the game out of reach early. Fordham ended up scoring at least five goals in every quarter, while defensively holding the Vikings to just two goals a frame.
Berenyi, Papanikolaou,
Christos Loupakis, and
Mark Katsev each had three goals in the contest with Katsev adding a pair of assists.
Jagger McMannis, Armingol,
Jacopo Parrella, and
Christopher Gray also added two goals apiece. In goal, Di Giuseppe had four saves and an assist in 30 minutes of action, while
Panayiotis Giannas had a save and two steals to close out the match.
GAME 3 - #15 Fordham 18, Iona 8
Sunday's action started well for Fordham, opening the match with a 4-1 lead on the Gaels, behind a pair of goals by
Lucas Nieto Jasny. Nieto Jasny added two more goals in the second quarter, keeping Fordham ahead by three at 8-5. The Rams then put the game away with five goals in each of the final two frames, while holding Iona to just three goals total.
Nieto Jasny was the big performer, netting five goals on five shots to go with two assists and two steals. Parrella added four goals and two assists with Berenyi having two goals and three assists. On the back end, Di Giuseppe had five stops, an assist, and a steal with Giannas having one save and one steal.
GAME 4 – RV Brown 18, #15 Fordham 13
The final match against host Brown got out to an incredible beginning with Fordham taking a 6-1 lead after the first quarter, highlighted by two goals from Silvestri. The second quarter went in favor of the Bears, as they outscored Fordham, 5-0 in the period, to tie the game at six by halftime. Fordham regained a two-goal advantage early in the third quarter on goals by Parrella and Silvestri, but Brown answered with two of their own for an 8-8 score. After exchanging goals to make it nine all, the Bears took their first lead with 49 seconds left in the third quarter and did not relinquish that advantage.
For Fordham, Silvestri and
Barnabas Eppel led the attack with three goals each, with Nieto Jasny and Parrella having two goals apiece. Nieto Jasny also added four steals defensively.
The Fordham water polo team is back in action, September 9-10, at the Princeton Invitational with games against Chapman, Harvard, and Princeton.
