ANNAPOLIS, Md./SPRINGFIELD, Va. — The No. 5-ranked Fordham University water polo team moved closer to locking up th No. 1 position for the upcoming Mid-Atlantic Water Conference (MAWPC) Championship as the Rams capped off a perfect weekend with MAWPC road victories at the United States Naval Acadey 16-14, and George Washington University, 25-14.
With the wins, Fordham improves to 18-3 on the year, 8-0 in the MAWPC. The wins over both Navy and George Washington complete season sweeps of the Mids and Revolutionaries by the Rams as the team is guaranteed at least the No. 2 seed for the MAWPC Championship at home in the Bronx on Friday-Sunday, November 21-23.
Facing Navy for the second time following an earlier 20-14 win on October 11 in the Bronx, Fordham opened with a 5-4 lead after the first quarter as Andras Toth netted a pair of the Rams’ five goals.
Fordham doubled the lead to 10-8 by halftime, as Toth doubled his goal total as well to four in the game.
The two teams played even over the final two quarters with each squad netting three goals in the third and fourth quarter for the 16-14 final.
Toth scored a game-high seven goals to go with three assists and three steals, while Luca Provenziani had four goals, two assists, three steals and two blocks.
Alessandro Salipante added two goals and three assists with Barnabas Eppel, Diego Tresa and Gianni Farrugia having the other three markers.
In net, Matthew Bonello DuPuis had eight saves to go with an assist.
Meeting George Washington for the second time after posting a 16-14 victory on October 11 in the Bronx, Fordham invaded the suburbs of Washington, D.C., and knocked off the Revolutionaries at The St. James in Springfield, Va.
Leading by one after the first quarter, the Rams had a big second quarter, netting seven in the frame with Toth and Balazs Berenyi each having two goals. Fordham concluded the quarter with an unexpected goal by goalkeeper Bonello DuPuis, who lofted a last second attempt toward an empty net and scored.
Another seven-goal outburst came for the Rams in the third quarter with Toth and Eppel each having three in the frame.
Fordham concluded the game with a six-goal fourth quarter as six different scorers dented the twine to cap off a 25-14 win.
Toth scored six goals on six shots to go with three steals, while Eppel had five goals on five shots.
Marco Napolitano added three goals and three assists with Berenyi also having a hat trick. Salipante dished out six assists in the match to go with a goal and two steals.
Bonello DuPuis notched nine saves to go with his goal and two assists.
Information courtesy Fordham University Athletics Communications
