18-0: No. 5 Fordham University Puts Down No. 4 University of the Pacific, 17-13, at Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The special season that the Fordham University water polo team has put together had another big moment as the No. 5-ranked Rams upset the No. 4 University of the Pacific Tigers, 17-13, at the Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament in a battle of the only unbeaten teams in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

The win over the Tigers (13-1) now sits as the highest ranked victory for Fordham (18-0) in program history, surpassing the team’s win over then No. 7/now No. 6 Princeton University back in September.

It was an even first quarter with each team scoring four times.  Lucas Nieto Jasny scored twice with George Papanikolaou and Luca Silvestri each having one for the Rams.

The team’s continued going goal for goal until a man-up goal by Luca Provenziani put Fordham ahead 8-7, which is how the period would end as both goalkeepers, Fordham’s Thomas Lercari and Pacific’s Bae Fountain, kept the two potent offenses at bay.

Pacific got the better of the Rams in the third quarter by one, as they tied the game at 11, heading to the final eight minutes.

In the fourth quarter, the Rams got the all-important two-goal lead, getting goals from Silvestri and Jacopo Parrella for a 13-11 lead with 4:44 left in the game.  After a goal by Pacific, Balazs Berenyi answered for the Rams to restore the two-goal lead with three minutes remaining.

Andras Toth then closed out the game for the Rams, scoring the final three goals for the 17-13 final.

For Fordham, Toth finished with a game-high four goals to go with two assists and three steals, while Parrella notched a hat trick and three assists.  Papanikolaou scored only one goal, but dished out six assists with Silvestri also having a hat trick.  In net, Lercari ended up with 12 saves, including two penalty blocks, and two steals.

Release courtesy Fordham University Athletics Communications