Bronx, N.Y. - The number 16 holds diverse significance across mathematics, spirituality, religion, and culture. It is the smallest number with exactly five divisors (1, 2, 4, 8, and 16) and the atomic number of sulfur, a vital nonmetal element. Today it was the number of goals scored by the Fordham water polo squad as the Rams picked up a pair of wins, defeating #6 Princeton, 16-14, in a non-conference matchup and Navy, 16-13, in a MAWPC contest.
 
With the win, Fordham improves to 14-1 overall on the season, 5-0 in the MAWPC.
 
In the first match of the day, junior Andras Toth led the Fordham offense with five goals and three assists while junior Luca Provenziani added two goals and five assists.
 
The score was tied at three after the first eight minutes before goals by Toth and freshman Karlo Dragosevic gave the Rams a 5-3 lead 1:12 into the second quarter.
 
The Fordham lead would alternate between one and two goals the rest of the first half with the Rams taking a 9-7 lead at the break thanks to a goal from freshman Oktavian Veklyuk at the halftime buzzer.
 
Fordham increased the lead to three, 10-7, on a Peter Kulas goal early in the second but the Tigers outscored the Rams, 4-1, the rest of the quarter to knot the game at eleven.
 
Goals from Toth, Provenziani, and Dragosevic to open the fourth quarter gave the Rams a 14-11 lead, before Princeton pulled within one, 15-14, with 1:35 on the clock. But a late Kulas goal gave the Rams some cushion and the 16-14 win.
 
In game two, sophomore Alessandro Salipante scored three times and Provenziani added three goals and two assists to lead Fordham to the win.
 
The Rams led 3-1 after the first quarter with two of the goals coming from sophomore Alessandro Salipante, and managed to take a 7-5 lead at the break.
 
Fordham increased the lead to five, 10-5, scoring the first four of the first five goals of the second half to take a 14-7 lead with 5:32 left and the Midshipmen would get no closer than the final score.
 
Notes
• Freshman goalkeeper Viktor Savic made seven saves against Princeton and nine against Navy.
 
• It was the 23rd meeting between the Rams and Princeton, with the Tigers leading the all-time series, 20-5, but Fordham has taken the past four meetings.
 
• This was the 39th time Fordham and Navy have met with the Rams leading the series, 23-16, with the Rams taking the last 14 meetings.
 
• The win increases Fordham's home winning streak to 36 matches, dating back to 2022.
 
• Fordham now has a 59-match MAWPC winning streak in regular season matches dating back to the 2021 season.
 
What's Next?
• The Rams close out the weekend with a conference match against George Washington at 10:00 a.m. at the Messmore Aquatics Center.