By Maria Trivelpiece

Fordham Men’s Water Polo entered this week as the 19th best team in the nation after upsetting nationally-ranked George Washington University and beginning their conference play undefeated. With the Rams’ stellar opening performance, it was of no surprise that goalkeeper, senior Alex Jahns, was named MAWPC Defensive Player of the Week. Jahns led his team to three huge victories to start off conference play and captured 31 saves, 11 steals and two assists.

Feeling confident, the Rams headed to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania this Sunday ready to take on yet another ranked opponent, the 16th ranked Bucknell University Bison. After three periods of play, both teams had scored six goals, forcing the teams to face off in a thrilling fourth. The Rams took the lead with only 33 seconds left; however, the Bison persisted, tying the game at 8-8, forcing an overtime.

Overtime was the battle of the defense. Neither team scored in the first three-minute session until Bucknell’s Cooper Dolan snuck in a goal with only 18 seconds left in the overtime session. The Rams could not respond in the little time remaining and lost to the Bison with a final score of 9-8.

Graduate student attacker Massimiliano Mirachi was fantastic once again for the Rams, scoring four goals and an assist. Junior Ian Watson scored two goals and had two blocks. Fordham also kept the 2016 MAWPC Player of the Year, Rade Josimovic, from scoring. The loss was their first one of conference play, making them 3-1 in the MAWPC and 7-4 overall.

Even when the Rams lose, they do so with fight and strength that cannot really be matched. These rowdy Rams refuse to back down and will be able to redeem themselves sooner rather than later. The team travels to Redlands, California Thursday, Oct. 5 to take on the University of Redlands and then head to Walnut, California to take on Mt. San Antonio University. On Oct. 6, the team will then make its way to Claremont, California where they will participate in the Gary Troyer Tournament. Then, finally, on Oct. 18 Fordham fans can catch the team in their home pool.