BRONX, N.Y. — Behind four-goal games by George Papanikolaou and Christos Loupakis, the No. 17-ranked Fordham University water polo team raced past Division III No. 5 Johns Hopkins University, 19-4, at the Messmore Aquatic Center.
With the win, Fordham improves to 19-4 on the year, 7-0 in the MAWPC, while Johns Hopkins fell to 4-14 overall, 0-5 in the league.
The Rams got out to a quick 4-1 lead by the end of the first quarter, thanks to Papanikolaou, who netted three goals in the opening frame with Lucas Nieto Jasny having the other marker.
Fordham then exploded for six goals in the second quarter, three of which came from Loupakis to build up a 10-3 advantage.
The Rams added nine more tallies in the second half to win by a 19-4 margin.
As stellar as the offense was, the Fordham defense was spectacular with Thomas Lercari leading the way in net with 15 saves, while tacking on five assists and a steal. In all, the Rams as a team recorded 21 steals in the match, as the Blue Jays played without one of their premier players in Emerson Sullivan due to injury.
Offensively, Loupakis and Papanikolaou each had four goals in the game with Jacopo Parrella adding three goals, three assists, and five steals. Nieto Jasny also had three goals and an assist with the remaining tallies coming from Nacho Ariste, Victor Schultz, Quinn Wagner, Mark Katsev and Jack Brodersen.
Release courtesy Fordham University Athletics Communications
