PRINCETON, N.J. — Behind a six-goal performance from Jacopo Parrella, the No. 20-ranked Fordham University water polo team opened play at the 2023 Princeton Invitational hosted by Princeton at DeNunzio Pool with a 21-12 victory over the Division III No. 4 Chapman University Panthers.
Fordham – which improves to 3-2 on the season – got out to a good start, opening with a 5-3 edge after the first quarter. Parrella netted three goals in that opening frame to go with markers by George Papanikolaou and Christos Loupakis.
The Rams increased the lead to four by halftime at 9-5 as Luca Silvestri found the back of the net twice in the quarter. Parrella added his fourth goal of the game in the second quarter with Barnabas Eppel having the other tally.
Fordham put the game away with five and seven goals in the third and fourth quarters, respectively.
For the Rams, Parrella finished with six goals on seven shots to go with two steals to lead the attack. Silvestri posted four goals, four assists and a pair of steals, while Papanikolaou had three goals, three assists and five steals.
Eppel and Balazs Berenyi each had two goals with Loupakis, Jagger McMannis, Gabriel Melillo and Gabriel Guinane accounting for the remaining strikes.
In net, Riccardo Di Giuseppe recorded five saves in the win.
Information courtesy Fordham University Athletics Communications
