ANNAPOLIS, Md. — 2024 Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) Rookie of the Year Luca Provenziani (Fr., Rome, Italy/Liceo Scientifico Statale Isaaco Newton) and Player of the Game Marco Napolitano (Gr., Naples, Italy/Istituto Sacro Cuore) both contributed four goals as No. 3-ranked Fordham University rolled to the programs’ 29th victory of the season with a 30-4 dispatching of Mercyhurst University in the opening game of the 2024 Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) Championship.
Competing at the United States Naval Academy’s Lejeune Hall, Fordham (29-0, 15-0 MAWPC) took little time in sinking the Lakers as the Rams outscored Mercyhurst (7-24, 0-15 MAWPC) 10-0 in the first quarter and claimed a 17-2 lead by halftime. Following an 8-0 outburst in the third quarter to push ahead 25-2 through 24 minutes, the Rams put the finishing touches on a 26-goal win by racking up a 5-2 scoring advantage in the fourth quarter to overpower Mercyhurst.
A total of 14 Fordham athletes dented the twine in the contest as Provenziani and Napolitano were joined in the scoring column with hat-tricks from Csongor Bartuszek (Fr., Greenwich, Conn./Greenwich) and former St. Francis College Brooklyn standout Paul Armingol (Sr., Aix en Provence, France/Lycee Emile Zola). James Oriskovich (Gr., Santa Barbara, Calif./San Marcos (University of California-Santa Barbara), Jagger McMannis (Jr., Tustin, Calif./Foothill), Andras Toth (Fr., Pecs, Hungary/PTE Babits Gyakorlo Gimnazium), Ioane Maglakelidze (So., Riverside, Conn./Greenwich), Jacopo Parrella (Sr., Naples, Italy/Umberto I State Classical); Tyler Fahey (Fr., Darien, Conn./Darien) tacked on pairs with West Gartland (Fr., San Diego, Calif./La Jolla), Luca Silvestri (Sr., Napoli, Italy/Istituto Comprensvo Sacro Cuore (Westcliff University), Mark Katsev (Sr., Brooklyn, N.Y./Leon M. Goldstein) and Barnabas Eppel (So., Budapest, Hungary/Budenz Jozsef Alapitvanyi Gimnazium) firing in solo markers.
In cage, 2024 MAWPC Most Valuable Player Thomas Lercari (Sr., Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif./Palos Verdes) stopped five shots and allowed one goal in 13:30 of playing time. Kristof Magony (Fr., Szeged, Hungary/SZTE Gyakorio Gimnaziu es Altalanos Iskola) made four saves in 10:30 with a score permitted, while Reggie Robles (Fr., Santa Barbara, Calif./Dos Pueblos) turned aside four scoring tries with a pair of goals against in the fourth quarter.
Across the tank, Caden Stover (Fr., Napoleon, Ohio/Napoleon) scored twice with Ben Gavran (So., Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) and Keller Sens (So., Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) accounting for solo strikes in support of a three save performance by goalkeeper Alex Gyde (So., McClure, Ohio/Napeleon).
Courtesy the win, Fordham will next compete at 4:00 p.m. Eastern on Saturday, November 23, in a semifinal versus the victor of a first round game matching Bucknell University and Wagner College. Mercyhurst will take on the fallen from the Bison-Seahawks contest at 1:00 p.m. with a berth in the Fifth Place game on the line.
| 1st Q | 2nd Q | 3rd Q | 4th Q | – | FINAL | |
| Mercyhurst University |
0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | – | 4 |
| No. 3 Fordham University |
10 | 7 | 8 | 5 | – | 30 |
| Fordham Goals: | Luca Provenziani (4); Marco Napolitano (4); Csongor Bartuszek (3); Paul Armingol (3); James Oriskovich (2); Jagger McMannis (2); Andras Toth (2); Ioane Maglakelidze (2); Jacopo Parrella (2); Tyler Fahey (2); West Gartland; Luca Silvestri; Mark Katsev; Barnabas Eppel | |||||
| Mercyhurst Goals: | Caden Stover (2); Ben Gavran; Keller Sens | |||||
| Saves: | Fordham – Thomas Lercari (5 saves, 13:30), Kristof Magony (4 saves, 10:30), Reggie Robles (4 saves, 8 minutes) ; Mercyhurst – Alex Gyde (3 saves) | |||||
| Exclusions: | Fordham – 8 ; Mercyhurst – 7 | |||||
| Advantage Opportunities: | Fordham – 4-for-7 ; Mercyhurst – 1-for-8 | |||||
| Sprints: | Fordham – 3-for-4 (1st, 2nd, 4th) ; Mercyhurst – 1-for-4 (3rd) | |||||
| Cards/Misconducts: | None | |||||
| Officials: | Alex Larin,Jim Lewis | |||||
Fordham University’s Jacopo Parrella (#12) lines up a shot against Mercyhurst University goalkeeper Alex Glyde (#1A)
Mercyhurst University’s Ben Gavran (#19) attempts to get off a pass as Fordham University’s Barnabas Eppel (#3) closes in
Fordham University’s Andras Toth (#20) outraces Mercyhurst University defender Nate Lutz (#13)
