Annapolis, Md. – (November 23, 2024) – The #3/4 Fordham water polo team continued its march toward a fourth consecutive MAWPC Championship on Saturday by defeating the Wagner Seahawks, 19-11, in the championship semifinals, held at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
Fordham (30-0) fell behind in the first quarter, 3-1, before back-to-back goals by
Barnabas Eppel tied the score at three all. The Seahawks scored in the final 30 seconds of the frame to grab a 4-3 lead after one period.
The Rams then came out strong to start the second, posting the first three goals of the quarter for a 6-4 edge.
Jacopo Parrella scored first to tie the game at four followed by tallies from
Luca Provenziani and Eppel. Wagner answered with two markers to tie the game at six before Fordham ended the period on a three-goal run in the final minute for a 9-6 halftime lead. Eppel scored his fourth goal of the game in that run, while
Andras Toth and Provenziani closed out the scoring.
Fordham then scored five times in the third and fourth quarters, while holding Wagner to five total goals for the 19-11 win.
For the Rams, Provenziani led the way with five goals and four assists, while Eppel and Parrella each notched four goals apiece.
Marco Napolitano added two goals with the remaining markers coming from
Balazs Berenyi,
James Oriskovich,
Tyler Fahey, and Toth. In net,
Thomas Lercari posted nine saves, two steals, and an assist.
Fordham now moves on to the MAWPC Championship match against #20 Navy at 1:30 PM on Sunday, November 24
th.