Providence, R.I./Cambridge, Mass. – (September 7, 2024) – Behind superior goalkeeping from
Thomas Lercari and excellent offensive execution, the #14/15 Fordham Rams opened the 2024 water polo season with a pair of ranked opponent victories on Saturday at the Bruno Classic.
The day opened in Providence, Rhode Island, where the Rams defeated #20 Brown, 22-15.
The tone was set early in the match, as Fordham goalie
Thomas Lercari recorded a penalty block save in the opening minutes to start the momentum in Fordham's favor. It was one of three penalty blocks in the match for the senior, setting a new career-high. The Rams then scored six goals from six different players to lead, 6-0, after the first quarter.
Fordham padded the lead up to 9-2 in the second quarter before Brown got it back to a six-goal game at 11-5 at the half.
The Rams then hit the gas pedal, scoring seven times in the third quarter to belly out to an 18-8 lead, where Fordham already had seven extra-man tallies. In all, Fordham ended up with nine extra-man goals, leading to the 22-15 win.
For Fordham,
Balazs Berenyi netted three goals and three assists with
Luca Silvestri also having a hat trick.
George Papanikolaou added two goals and four assists, while
Jacopo Parrella,
Lucas Nieto Jasny,
Luca Provenziani, and
Andras Toth each had two markers. In net, Lercari played just over three quarters, making 12 saves, three of which were penalty blocks, to go with an assist and two steals.
Fordham then headed to Cambridge, Massachusetts, posting a 23-12 win over the #17 Cal Baptist Lancers.
After taking a 4-2 lead after the first quarter, Fordham swarmed the Lancers with a six-goal frame in the second quarter to lead, 10-3, by halftime.
The Rams continue to pour on the offense, netting seven goals in the third quarter and six in the fourth for the 23-12 final.
Overall, 15 different Fordham players scored at least one goal in the match. Silvestri added his second hat trick of the day with Nieto Jasny also netting three goals. Papanikolaou finished with two goals, three assists, and a pair of steals, while Berenyi,
James Oriskovich, and Toth each had two goals. Lercari once again played just over three quarters in goal, posting seven saves, four steals and two assists.
The Rams conclude action at the Bruno Classic on Sunday, September 8
th, as they play MIT at 10:30 AM, while having an exhibition contest against Harvard at 1:00 PM.
