Bronx, N.Y. – (November 1, 2024) – The last remaining undefeated team in NCAA water polo is in action three times on the road this weekend, as the #2/4 Fordham Rams continue MAWPC play against #20/-- George Washington, RV/#20 Navy, and Johns Hopkins.
Fordham (21-0, 7-0 MAWPC) moved to #2 with Stanford and USC in the latest CWPA/NCAA Poll, while going to #4 in the ACWPC Coaches Poll, following a perfect west coast trip. The Rams went 6-0 with wins over then-#4 Pacific, #12 San Jose State, and #16 UC Santa Barbara, marking their first unbeaten trip to California in program history. Fordham, Stanford, and USC all finished at 91 points in the CWPA/NCAA Poll, thus a tie for the #2 spot in the poll, as the Rams claimed their highest-ever ranking. Only #1 UCLA is rated higher.
The Rams will look to complete the season sweep of all three of their league, having defeated each squad earlier in the year. The Rams downed Johns Hopkins, 28-9 at the Bison Invitational on September 22
nd, while defeating Navy, 17-11, and George Washington, 20-9, at the Col. Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center on September 28
th.
PROVENZIANI, TOTH EARN MAWPC WEEKLY AWARDS (10/30): The Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) released its weekly awards on Wednesday with Fordham's
Luca Provenziani earning the league's Player of the Week honor, while
Andras Toth was selected as Co-Rookie of the Week.
Provenziani picked up his second Player of the Week award of the season after another outstanding week for the Rams, as the team improved to 21-0 on the season and stands as the lone undefeated team in the NCAA. Over the six-match west coast trip, he registered 20 goals, 11 assists, seven steals, and 10 exclusions drawn. After netting three goals and an assist in a win over #16 UCSB, he posted a season-high six goals in a win over #12 San Jose State. Then in the top-five win over #4 Pacific, Provenziani had two goals, an assist, and four steals. He then added two goals and three assists versus West Valley, two goals and two assists against UC Merced, and five goals and two assists versus Air Force.
Toth earned his second Rookie of the Week honor after an incredible weekend. Over the six-match west coast trip, he posted 21 goals, 10 assists, 15 steals, and a block. After having an assist and two steals at #16 UCSB, Toth had two goals, an assist, and two steals in a win over #12 San Jose State. In a showdown win over #4 Pacific, Toth had four goals, two assists, and three steals, and then had five markers, two steals, and an assist versus West Valley. He concluded the trip with four goals and four steals against UC Merced, as well as six goals and four assists against Air Force.
LERCARI, PAPANIKOLAOU NAMED TO CUTINO AWARD WATCH LIST (10/17): For the third year, USA Water Polo and The Olympic Club are excited to collaborate with the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) on the Cutino Award Watch List. The Peter J. Cutino Award, named in honor of the late Hall of Fame coach, recognizes the best player in men's and women's college water polo. Among those listed are Fordham seniors
Thomas Lercari and
George Papanikolaou. The watch list was created in 2022 in an effort to help promote the college game, awareness of the honor, and the excellent play of athletes around the country.
With Lercari and Papanikolaou's inclusion, it marks the third consecutive year that Fordham has had a player on the initial watch list, joining Nir Gross in 2022 and Papanikolaou last year.
GETTING OFFENSIVE: Through 21 contests, Fordham has scored 413 goals, averaging 19.7 per contest. 16 individual players are in double figures, led by
Andras Toth with 58.
Luca Provenziani is second at 56, followed by
Lucas Nieto Jasny (40) and
George Papanikolaou (32). The Rams have also cranked things up with the man-advantage, converting on 57% of their opportunities (106 for 187).
GOIN' STREAKIN': After winning their first seven MAWPC matches, Fordham has now won 37 consecutive league contests dating back to late in the 2021 season. If you include the MAWPC Championship, the Rams have beaten an MAWPC opponent 45 straight times.
CAREER MILESTONES: Over the first three weekends, seniors
Jacopo Parrella,
George Papanikolaou, and
Lucas Nieto Jasny reached 200 career goals scored, becoming just the third, fourth, and fifth Fordham water polo players in the last 40 years to reach that mark, joining Rick Sweeney (215 – 1984-87) and
Jake Miller-Tolt (351 – 2016-19). Additionally, Papanikolaou surpassed Miller-Tolt's modern day career assists record of 220, as Papanikolaou now has 256 for his career.
Another milestone on the horizon should come quickly, as goalkeeper
Thomas Lercari is one save shy of 800 for his career. He will join Timmy Will (800 - 2005-08) and Noah LeBeau (996 – 2011-14) as the only three Fordham netminders to reach that plateau.
GREAT START: The Rams have blasted on to the scene in 2024 with a 21-0 record. It is the team's best-ever start to a season.
WHO'S NEXT: The Rams return home to the Col. Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center on Saturday, November 9
th, as they host three home matches against Bucknell (11:00 AM), Mercyhurst (2:30 PM), and Mt. St. Mary's (5:00 PM). The Rams will celebrate Senior Day ceremonies prior to the Mt. St. Mary's match.
