Fordham Claims Fifth Consecutive Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference Crown; Headed to NCAA Champs
With a victory last weekend, the Fordham Rams reaffirmed their place as the powerhouse of the Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference. The program defeated the George Washington Revolutionaries, 16-9, to capture a fifth straight MAWPC championship at the Col. Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center in Brooklyn Heights, N.Y.
The nationally ranked Rams improved their record to 25-3 and punched their ticket to the NCAA Championships, scheduled for December 5-7 at Stanford University.
Taking on Fordham in its own pool is a daunting task, but GW matched the early intensity with a strong opening half. The first quarter played out evenly, with both teams scoring three times. The Revolutionaries even scored the first goal in the second quarter, earning a 4-3 lead early and forcing the Rams to respond.
Fordham answered with an impressive stretch that shifted the momentum in its favor. Four unanswered goals before halftime transformed a narrow deficit into a 7–4 advantage, and GW had no way to slow the Rams.
The third quarter became a showcase of Fordham’s depth and power. The Rams netted six more goals while limiting GW to just three, stretching the margin to 13-7 heading into the final eight minutes. Down six and running short on time, GW couldn’t generate the comeback it needed. Fordham dominated the final period, adding three more goals to put the game away.
For Fordham, this conference title had meaning. With the win, the Rams completed their fourth consecutive undefeated season in MAWPC play, continuing the momentum of last year’s record setting run. Last season, Fordham finished with a perfect 28–0 regular season record, an almost unheard-of feat, especially for an East Coast program. The run propelled the Rams into the national rankings for the first time in school history.
Fordham’s sustained success is no coincidence. Head coach Brian Bacharach, a 2006 All-American and national champion at Cal, has built something special in the Bronx. In his 12th year at Fordham, Bacharach has perfected assembling a roster from all over the world that fits together seamlessly.
The Rams recruit talent from California and Connecticut elite club programs, while also recruiting from water polo hotbeds across the globe like Hungary, Italy, and South Africa.
Following the tournament, the Rams had eight players named to the MAWPC Championship All-Tournament Team. They claimed both the Tournament MVP and Rookie of the Tournament awards, with Luca Silvestri and Diego Tresa earning the honors, respectively. Silvestri, a graduate student from Napoli, Italy, was also named to the First Team alongside sophomore Andras Toth.
On the Second Team, seniors Balazs Bernyi and Luca Provenziani earned recognition for their contributions. The Honorable Mention selections included graduate goalkeeper Matthew Bonello DuPuis and junior Barnabas Eppel.
The Rams, who will enter the NCAA Tournament as the fourth seed, will play in the first round of the competition on Dec. 5 at 5 p.m. PST.