Fordham University Water Polo had an impressive showing at the Princeton Invitational in Princeton, New Jersey this past weekend, increasing the team’s overall season record to 5–2. The Rams started off with a 12–9 victory on Saturday night against Santa Clara. On Sunday, the Rams finished 1–1, winning 14-10 against St. Francis Brooklyn but ultimately falling short to Harvard with an 11–8 loss.

Fordham was off to a strong start against Santa Clara, showcasing their offensive star power. The 1st period remained close with the score tied up at 3–3 before Fordham scored two consecutive goals and retained a 5–4 edge by the half. Fordham then scored four unanswered goals in the third  period, before tacking on two more in the 4th to cement their victory. Sophomore Dimitris Koukias had four goals, tying his 2018 season-high for goals in one game. Senior Jake Miller-Tolt made his contribution with three goals and five assists. Junior Phillip Wang and senior Joseph Agabs scored two apiece, and senior Oscar Nomura rounded out the scoring with one goal. Sophomore goalkeeper Bailey O’Mara had a solid outing as well, with eight saves in net. The final score was 12–9 in favor of the Rams.

The Rams continued their winning record with an exciting victory over the 17th-ranked St. Francis team. The Rams had a solid 10–6 by the half. The St. Francis Terriers fought back in the 3rd, tying the game up at 10–10, but Fordham pulled ahead with four unanswered scores and led by 15–12 at the end of the third. The Rams solidified their lead 19–13 early in the 4th quarter. Jake Miller-Tolt was an offensive nightmare for the Terriers, scoring a career-high nine times and adding four assists. Dimitris Koukias also dominated offensively, scoring five. Bailey O’ Mara had a stellar appearance in goal, tallying 16 saves and adding on two steals for the game. The Rams triumphed over The Terriers with a 19–14 win, bringing their record to 5–1 overall by Sunday afternoon.

The Fordham winning streak finally came to an end with a loss against 12th-ranked Harvard to conclude their Invitational showing. The Rams put up a fight against the Crimson, keeping the game close until the end. Harvard led 3–1 in the 1st, increasing their lead to three goals with a 6–3 score by the half. The Rams then outscored Harvard 3–1 in the 3rd, coming within one goal of the Crimson with a 7–6 score. But Harvard was able to maintain the lead and increase it in the 4th, making it a three-goal difference. Dimitris Koukias led the Rams with five goals. Joseph Agabs had two goals and Jake Miller-Tolt tacked on one.  Ultimately, Harvard came away with the 11–8 win.

Overall, Fordham Water Polo had a lot to be proud of coming out of the Princeton Invitational. The Rams will return to the water on Sept. 21, when they travel to Lewisburg, Penn. for the Bison Invitational. Their first game will be at 1 p.m. against Bucknell.