LEWISBURG, Pa. — The No. 17-ranked/defending Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) Champion Fordham University men’s water polo team opened the Bucknell Invitational hosted by Bucknell University at Kinney Natatorium by taking down Mount St. Mary’s University, 17-13, and the host Bison, 10-7, in league competition.
Facing the Mountaineers in the day’s opener, Fordham led 12-11 after three quarters of action. However, the Mountaineers tied the game at 12-all with 6:25 left in the fourth quarter. Fordham answered with back-to-back goals from Nir Gross and Luca Silvestri to regain a two-goal edge at 14-12.
Mount St. Mary’s closed the gap back to one at 14-13, but the Rams rallied for three goals over the final three minutes to capture the 17-13 win.
For Fordham, Gross led the attack with a team-high five goals on eight shots, while Jacopo Parrella notched four goals to go with two assists and two steals. George Papanikolaou added three goals and five assists with Luca Silvestri (two goals), Christos Loupakis, Lucas Nieto Jasny and Nacho Ariste also scoring for Fordham.
In match two, it was a defensive battle with Fordham taking a 10-7 decision from host Bucknell.
The Bison opened the match with a 3-0 lead before the Rams answered with three goals of their own to tie the game at three after the first quarter.
Papanikolaou and Gross then scored in the second quarter for a 5-4 Fordham edge by halftime.
The seesaw affair continued with Bucknell tying the game at six after three quarters. Fordham though powered through in the fourth, tallying four goals to Bucknell’s one for the win.
Parrella and Papanikolaou each netted three goals in the game with Silvestri having two goals and two assists. Gross and Loupakis rounded out the Fordham scoring. In net, Thomas Lercari posted 12 saves, including two penalty blocks.
Release courtesy Fordham University Athletics Communications
