BRONX, N.Y. — Behind three-goal games from Nir Gross, Christos Loupakis and Lucas Nieto Jasny, the No. 19-ranked/host Fordham University water polo team dominated McKendree University, 15-6, to make the semifinals of the Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) Championship at the Messmore Aquatic Center.
Fordham jetted out to a 7-2 lead after the first quarter, taking advantage of a McKendree squad that claimed a 16-11 contest against Gannon University earlier in the day to reach the quarterfinals. Loupakis and Nieto Jasny each scored twice in the frame, with Gross, Curtis Vidinoff and George Papanikolaou also finding the back of the net.
The Rams expanded the lead to 11-4 in the second quarter, as Balazs Berenyi scored twice, while Nacho Ariste and Jasny each netted one tally.
Fordham scored the only three goals in the third quarter to go up by ten, as Gross and Loupakis completed their own hat tricks, respectively.
Mark Katsev finished the scoring for Fordham with an extra-man goal in the fourth for the 15-6 final.
In total, Jasny had three goals and an assist, while Ariste had a goal, four assists, and won all four swim-offs. Papanikolaou added a pair of assists to his goal, while Gabriel Melillo notched three assists and three steals.
In net, Thomas Lercari had seven saves over three quarters of work, while Riccardo DiGiuseppe had two saves in the final quarter of action.
The Rams will next be in action at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 19, against Salem University in the semifinals. Salem earned its spot in the Final Four by tackling Wagner College, 17-13, earlier in the day.
McKendree will return to the water at 2:20 p.m. on Saturday, November 19, against Wagner with eyes on earning a spot in the Fifth Place game on Sunday, November 20, at Noon.
Information courtesy Fordham University Athletics Communications
