BRONX, N.Y. — Four different Rams recorded hat tricks to punch No. 19-ranked Fordham University’s ticket to the Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) Championship match as the Rams defeated Salem University, 19-8, at home in the Col. Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center.
Fordham jumped out to a big lead in the first quarter, scoring the first three goals of the game and seven of the first nine for a 7-2 first quarter lead. Lucas Nieto Jasny netted two of those goals, while Christos Loupakis, George Papanikolaou, Jacopo Parrella, Nir Gross and Luca Silvestri each had one.
The Rams continued to pour on the offense, scoring five times in the second for a 12-4 halftime lead, and then netting two in the third and five in the fourth for the final 19-8 score.
For Fordham, Nieto Jasny, Parrella, Gross, and Balazs Berenyi each had hat tricks with Nieto Jasny adding three assists and two steals to lead the attack. Papanikolaou also dished out three assists for the Rams. In net, Thomas Lercari recorded 10 saves over three-plus quarters with Riccardo DiGiuseppe finishing out the game.
The Rams will now play for their second consecutive MAWPC Championship on Sunday, November 20, at 3:00 p.m. against the Bison of Bucknell University. Bucknell topped No. 19 George Washington University, 7-5, in the other semifinal.
Release courtesy Fordham University Athletics Communications
