BRONX, N.Y. — The No. 16-ranked Fordham University men’s water polo team earned the split of a Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC)-East Region doubleheader at the Col. Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center as the Rams fell to No. 19 George Washington University, 9-8, and stopped Division III No. 9 Johns Hopkins University, 16-11.
In the first match of the day, the Rams took an 8-5 lead into the fourth quarter, but four goals by GW’s Andras Levai in the final frame gave the Colonials a 9-8 victory.
Fordham built a 4-2 lead by halftime in a fairly tight contest between the two ranked opponents, as Jake-Miller Tolt had three of Fordham’s four goals with the other belonging to Oscar Nomura.
The Rams then increased the lead with a four-goal third quarter, as Miller-Tolt, Tristen Knoflick, Dimitris Koukias and Jason Hiremath each scored, making it an 8-5 game.
Fordham could not find an answer to Levai in the fourth quarter as the Colonial netted four markers, the last with 4:08 to go in the game. The Rams had a final chance at an equalizer, but Nomura’s shot with under six seconds left deflected away.
For Fordham, Miller-Tolt finished with four goals, two steals, and an assist, while Nomura had a goal and an assist. Koukias added a goal, a steal, and two blocks, with Quinn Wagner chipping in a pair of assists. In net, Bailey O’Mara finished with 15 saves, seven of which came in the first quarter.
In match two, a six-goal outburst in the third quarter by the Rams turned allowed Fordham to handle Johns Hopkins.
Fordham led 7-6 at the half with Johns Hopkins tying the game at seven early in the third quarter. The Rams rallied with four consecutive goals, two of which came from Koukias, for an 11-7 lead. Fordham would not relinquish that lead, coming away with the win.
For the Rams, Miller-Tolt netted a team-high five goals to go with two assists with Koukias added three tallies. Joseph Agabs had a goal, four assists and two steals with Philip Wang coming away with three goals and an assist. Other goal scorers included Knoflick, Nomura, Sam Wheeler and Wagner.
In net, O’Mara finished with 13 saves and two steals.
Release courtesy Fordham University Athletics Communications
