By Maria Trivelpiece
After a shaky start to their season, the Fordham University men’s water polo team headed into its matches at Bucknell University this weekend with the goal of turning around its quality of play. The Rams opened up on Saturday against a Collegiate Water Polo Association opponent, Wagner, but were unable to show signs of progress, as they lost 13-4.
“We are still just figuring ourselves out a lot and finding a groove as a team,” junior Jake-Miller Tolt said. “We are playing good teams, so the losses are nothing to be ashamed of, just rather something that needs to be learned from.”
In the second match of the weekend, the team posted a much better performance. They defeated Mercyhurst by a whopping score of 19-3. Bucknell, another Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference team and a big rival for Fordham last season, was the next opponent. After a long, hard-fought battle, the Rams fell by a score of 9-7.
With the two losses, the aquatic Rams fall to 3-6 overall with an 0-2 record in conference play. The Rams are not panicking just yet as there are many more matches to be played.
“We’re going to look and focus more on our conference opponents,” said Miller-Tolt. “We need to step up offensively, and I think we will be okay.”
Fordham will have an opportunity to switch up its luck this coming weekend, as they head back to their home pool of Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center in the Bronx on Sunday for two CWPA games.
First, they will face off against George Washington University at 10 a.m. Last year, the Rams upset the then-ranked No. 20 Colonials in a thrilling display of water polo, and will look to do the same this time around.
At 3 p.m., they will take on the Naval Academy, who they have already battled previously in the season. The Rams lost by a single goal, but if they can implement the offense Miller-Tolt mentioned, they may find themselves moving towards victory.
After this short home stint, Men’s Water Polo heads to Redlands, California to play some of the best programs in the country. The season is far from over, and the Rams have the time and the ability for great improvements. With their conference tournament being held in the Bronx this year, it will be exciting to watch what this team can overcome and conquer throughout the rest of their season.
