WASHINGTON, D.C./ANNNAPOLIS, Md. — The No. 18-ranked Rams of Fordham University kept their winning ways going by earning Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) victories at George Washington University, 18-6, and No. 19 the United States Naval Academy 12-9.,
Fordham – which improve to 11-3 overall and 6-0 in the MAWPC with the wins – started the day in the national’s capital at GW’s Smith Center.
The Revolutionaries opened with a 2-0 lead two minutes into the game before Fordham reeled off the next six goals to lead 6-2 after the first quarter. The Rams took advantage of being up a man in the quarter by scoring three extra-man goals in the frame, two of which came from Barnabas Eppel.
The Rams increased the lead to seven, 10-3, by halftime, as George Papanikolaou scored twice in the second quarter to finish off a first half hat trick.
Fordham stayed in control in the second half, extending the lead to double digits, eventually winning by 12.
For Fordham, Papanikolaou, Eppel, and Luca Silvestri each had four goals and two assists, while Christos Loupakis notched two goals. The remaining Ram markers came from Lucas Nieto Jasny,Jacopo Parrella,Reid Thorson and Jagger McMannis. In net, Riccardo Di Giuseppe had five saves and two steals in the win.
In the nightcap at Navy’s Scott Natorium, Fordham outlasted the Midshipmen.
The Rams led 4-0 after the first quarter. Of those four tallies, Fordham scored twice with the man-advantage, getting markers from Loupakis and Papanikolaou.
Fordham matched that scoring output with four more goals in the second quarter, leading 8-2 at halftime.
The Midshipmen battled their way back into the match in the third, netting five goals to Fordham’s one, making it a 9-7 game.
Fordham answered that push by scoring the first two goals of the fourth quarter to regain a four-goal lead at 11-7 with 4:37 left. That lead held up against Navy with the final score being a three-goal margin.
For the Rams, Silvestri had another three-goal game, while Parrella had a goal and three assists. Nieto Jasny added two goals and three steals in the match with Loupakis also posting two goals. Papanikolaou, Eppel, Balazs Berenyi and Paul Armingol had the remaining scores for the Rams.
In goal, Di Giuseppe finished with seven saves and one steal.
Information courtesy Fordham University Athletics Communications
