LEWISBURG, Pa. — Fordham University continues its rise up the ranks of the National Top 20 Poll as the Rams, who received votes in the September 18 voting, knocked off host/No. 13-ranked Bucknell University, 17-15, and Salem University, 11-8, to start the Bucknell Invitational at Kinney Natatorium.
Fordham, who snapped a 24-game home winning streak for Bucknell, improves to 7-2 on the year and 1-0 in Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC)-East Region play as the games against the Bison was the league opener for both programs.
Sophomore Dimitris Koukias scored eight times in the two games to lead the way for the Rams, while senior Jake Miller-Tolt tallied six goals to go with two assists. Tristen Knoflick added three goals and four assists in the two wins.
The Rams jumped out to a 3-1 lead after the first quarter and Fordham maintained a two-goal lead, 11-9 at the half. The Rams increased the advantage to three, 14-11, after the third quarter and held on for the 17-15 win.
Koukias led Fordham in the Bucknell game, scoring five times, while Miller-Tolt finished with three goals and one assist and senior Joseph Agabs, Knoflick, Phillip Wang and George Maltby each scored twice.
Sophomore Bailey O’Mara made ten saves in the Fordham net while also recording three steals and two penalty blocks.
In the Salem International win, Fordham led by two, 4-2, after the first eight minutes, and took a four-goal lead, 7-3, in the halftime intermission. The Rams outscored the Tigers 4-2 in the third quarter to take an 11-5 lead en route to the 11-8 win.
Koukias and Miller-Tolt each tallied three goals while Wang added two for Fordham.
O’Mara recorded eleven saves and two steals over the first three quarters for the Rams.
Release courtesy Fordham University Athletics Communications
