PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Five-time defending Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) Champion/No. 5-ranked Fordham University proved the Rams did not lose a step during the offeseason as the squad outclassed No. 11 University of the Pacific, 15-14, in sudden victory prior to overpowering Gannon University, 26-5, on the second day of the Bruno Classic at Brown University’s Katherine Moran Coleman Aquatics Center.
In a battle of two nationally ranked foes, the margin in the contest between Fordham and Pacific stayed with two goals for the duration of four quarters, two overtime periods and time in sudden victory.
Pacific led by one, 3-2, after the first quarter, as well as at the half, 6-5, but the Rams tied the game twice prior to the Tigers posting a in the final minute of the third quarter to go ahead, 9-8.
The seesaw affair came down to the final possession and the final second of regulation as Vuk Kojic scored as time expired to tie the game at 12-all and force overtime.
In the first overtime period, Petar Kulas put Fordham ahead, 13-12, while in the second session, Laszlo Strasser scored in the final minute to put the Rams ahead by two, 14-12.
However, the Tigers were able to score twice in the final 42 seconds to knot the match at 14-all, pushing the game into sudden death overtime.
Neither team scored on their initial possession, but on Fordham’s second possession, Andras Toth found the back of the net for the game-winning goal and a 15-14 victory.
Toth finished with three goals and an assist in the match, while Oktavian Veklyuk netted a team-high five goals in his Fordham debut.
Strasser, Vuk Kojic and Mark Dyck added two goals apiece with Viktor Savic having four saves and two steals in his first Fordham match.
Facing Gannon, the Rams wasted little time taking control of the match with a six-goal first quarter, highlighted by a pair of markers from Strasser.
Fordham posted another seven goals in the second quarter to go up by a 13-3 score, as the final goal was netted by Luca Provenziani on the final shot of the frame.
The Rams then showed their depth, scoring nine times in the third quarter and four in the fourth for a 26-5 final score.
In all, 15 different Rams scored in the match, led by Charlie Martin, Karlo Dragosevic, Kulas and Strasser who each posted hat-tricks in the game. Toth, Alessandro Salipante and Gianni Farrugia scored two goals apiece .
In net, Savic and Alejandro Cheline each played a half with Savic recording five saves and Cheline adding four
Release courtesy Fordham University Athletics Communications.
