No. 5 Fordham University Serves Up 15-13 Setback to No. 12 San Jose State University to Remain Undefeated

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Freshman Luca Provenziani scored a season-high six times, as the No. 5-ranked Fordham University water polo downed host/No. 12 San Jose State Universty, 15-13, to remain undefeated with a 17-0 record.

It was an even opening quarter with each team scoring twice.  Fordham picked up goals from Lucas Nieto Jasny at even strength, while Andras Toth scored an extra-man goal with Provenziani getting the assist on both markers.

After trading goals to start the second quarter, George Papanikolaou scored back-to-back tallies to put the Rams up, 5-3.  Paul Armingol added another strike with nine seconds left for a 6-4 lead before a last second goal by the Spartans made it, 6-5.

San Jose State then put the pressure on the Rams, scoring six times in the third quarter to go up by one, 11-10, heading to the fourth quarter.

Fordham responded with three goals in the first 1:30 of the fourth quarter to go back ahead, 13-11.  Provenziani scored two of the three markers with Toth having the other.  The teams then traded goals to make it, 15-13, with 2:57 left after Barnabas Eppel recorded an extra-man goal for the Rams.

The Fordham defense, led by goalkeeper Thomas Lercari, held strong for the final minutes to claim a two-goal victory.  Lercari ended the match with 12 saves.

Offensively, Provenziani had a season-high six goals to go with two assists and a steal, while Papanikolaou had two goals and two assists.  Toth also had a pair of markers and two steals.

The game sets the stage for a showdown at Santa Clara University’s Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament on Friday, October 25, as the undefeated Rams put their unblemished record on the line against No. 4 University of the Pacific (13-0) in a battle of the lone undefeated teams in varsity men’s water polo this season.

Information courtesy Fordham University Athletics Communications