Nov. 23, 2013
PROVIDENCE, RI - Eighth-seeded Johns Hopkins got three goals apiece from sophomore Langdon Froomer and freshman Matt Fraser to defeat Fordham, 11-8, on Saturday morning in the consolation bracket of the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Championship. The Blue Jays (20-10) will face the seventh-seeded Mercyhurst Lakers in the ninth-place match on Sunday.
Senior Conor Flemming opened the scoring just over a minute into the game with a man-up goal. The Rams answered with an advantage goal of their own, tying the game at one with 4:04 to go in the period. Fraser and freshman Bret Pinsker then scored back-to-back goals just 42 seconds apart to stake the Blue Jays to a two-goal lead heading into the second.
Peter Bergum cut the deficit in half with his goal at 5:51 in the second, but sophomore Garrett Davidson quickly answered for the Jays, followed by a five-meter goal from Froomer to put Hopkins ahead 5-2. Andrew Gonzales and Patrick Lenihan sandwiched goals around a strike from junior Johnny Beal but the Blue Jays would take a 6-4 lead into the locker room at the half.
Fordham struck first in the third quarter, with a goal from Ben Clinkinbeard just 49 seconds in to cut the deficit in half again. Froomer answered with a pair to push the lead back to three with 3:48 to go in the stanza. Lenihan had the final say of the period however, scoring his second of the day to make it an 8-6 game after three. That's as close as the Rams could get as the Blue Jays scored the first two goals of the fourth period to push out to a four-goal lead. The teams then traded goals over the final five minutes to account for the 11-8 final.
Froomer led the Blue Jays with five points on three goals and two helpers, while Fraser also had a hat trick and added an assist. Junior Danny Ovelar played two quarters and made seven saves while allowing four goals. Sophomore Erik Henrikson also played two quarters, making two saves and allowing four.
Hopkins will take on Mercyhurst in the ninth-place match at 10:20 am on Sunday, November 24. The Blue Jays will be looking to end the season with a three-game win streak. Hopkins has already secured its second straight 20-win season and third in program history.
