CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — If the Fordham University water polo team was looking to make a statement on day one of the 2021 season, they certainly made a big one on day one of Brown University’s Bruno Classic as the Rams took down Division III No. 6-ranked the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 16-5, and stunned No. 11/host Harvard University, 10-8, at Blodgett Pool.
In Fordham’s season-opener versus the Engineers of MIT, the Rams jetted out to a 4-1 lead after the first quarter and increased the advantage to 9-1 by halftime.
Christos Loupakis made an immediate impression in his first game as a Ram, scoring five goals on five shots to lead all scorers. George Papanikolaou, who was also in his first game, added a pair of markers with Hans Zdolsek having a goal and three assists for Fordham. Michael Rahner registered two goals and two assists, with Lucas Nieto Jasny, Gabriel Melillo, Quinn Wagner, Mark Katsev, Skyler Knoflick and Stephen Judge each having one goal to close out the scoring.
In net, all three Fordham goalkeepers saw action. Bailey O’Mara played the first two-plus quarters, posting four saves and allowing just one goal, with Thomas Lercari having three saves in a quarter of work. Aldo Ordoñez finished out the game in net.
In match two, it was a stellar match between Fordham and Harvard with the score tied at six with three minutes left in the third quarter. The Rams then got back-to-back goals Sebastian Zapatero to build a 8-6 lead.
Harvard scored just before the end of the period to close within one, 8-7, setting up an exciting final quarter. The Rams regained a two-goal edge on their first possession of the period, as Zdolsek ripped a shot inside the left post for his third goal of the game.
After Harvard once again closed the gap to one, it was not until inside of three minutes left in regulation before the next goal was scored. Loupakis received a long entry pass, gave a pump fake, and then floated a shot into the goal to give the Rams a 10-8 advantage.
From there, the Fordham defense held the Crimson in check for the 10-8 win, which was the Rams’ first over the Crimson since 2011. It also marked Harvard’s first regular season home loss since 2018.
For Fordham, Zdolsek and Nieto Jasny each led the way with three goals, while Zapatero had two goals and two steals in the match. Papanikolaou added a goal, two assists, and four steals with Loupakis having a goal and an assist.
In net, O’Mara went the distance making nine stops in the game to go with two steals and a penalty block.
Release courtesy Fordham University Athletics Communications
