EMMITSBURG, Md. (November 5, 2021) – The #15 ranked team in the country gave Mount St. Mary's all it could handle Friday evening, as Fordham scored 11 times in the first half on the way to a 17-9 final in a Mid-Atlantic Water Polo East showdown.
 
Jason O'Donnell led the Mountaineers in goals with his 16^th hat trick of the year. Kacper Cieplik scored twice to secure multiple goals for the first time this season, joined by freshman Michael Lemishko.
 
Marko Kruska helped keep the Mount in contention with 15 saves. Eli Thalos tied a season and team with four assists.
 
Fordham took control from the jump, registering the first two goals. Lemishko responded to make it 2-1, but the Mountaineers were held off the board until a penalty at the horn. O'Donnell converted to make it 6-2. The Rams added another five in the second quarter to lead 11-5 at the break.
 
Hopes for a comeback took a dent early in the third as the Rams defense buckled down again. Almost shutout for the quarter, Nicholas Wallace-Whitfield scored with seconds left. Cieplik's pair and Lemishko's second helped the Mount win the last eight minutes, three goals to two.
 
Mount St. Mary's now stands at 6-17 (1-7) on the year. MAWPC East play continues Sunday at 3 p.m. when the Mount hosts Wagner.
 
Fordham 17, Mount St. Mary's 9
 
Team                 1    2    3    4
Mount St. Mary's     2    3    1    3
Fordham              6    5    4    2
 
Mount St. Mary's Goals: O'Donnell 3, Lemishko 2, Cieplik 2, Wallace-Whitfield 1, Horan 1.