San Jose, Calif. – (October 24, 2024) – Fordham freshman
Luca Provenziani scored a season-high six times, as the fifth-ranked Fordham water polo downed #12 San Jose State, 15-13, in San Jose, California.
With the win, Fordham moved to 17-0 on the year, while San Jose State fell to 9-4.
It was an even opening quarter with each team scoring twice. Fordham picked up goals from
Lucas Nieto Jasny at even strength, while
Andras Toth scored an extra-man goal with Provenziani getting the assist on both markers.
After trading goals to start the second quarter,
George Papanikolaou scored back-to-back markers to put the Rams up, 5-3.
Paul Armingol then scored with nine seconds left for a 6-4 lead before a last second goal by the Spartans made it, 6-5.
San Jose State then put the pressure on the Rams, scoring six times in the third quarter to go up by one, 11-10, heading to the fourth quarter.
Fordham responded with three goals in the first 1:30 of the fourth quarter to go back ahead, 13-11. Provenziani scored two of the three markers with Toth having the other. The teams then traded goals to make it, 15-13, with 2:57 left after
Barnabas Eppel scored an extra-man goal for the Rams.
The Fordham defense, led by goalkeeper
Thomas Lercari, held strong for the final minutes for the two-goal victory. Lercari ended the match with 12 saves.
Offensively, Provenziani had a season-high six goals to go with two assists and a steal, while Papanikolaou had two goals and two assists. Toth also had a pair of markers and two steals.
The Rams will be in action twice on Friday, October 25
th, with a heavyweight match-up against undefeated #4 Pacific (13-0) as a part of the Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament in Santa Clara, California. Game time is set for 5:40 PM ET. The Rams will also face West Valley College at 9:30 PM ET.
