Junior Kevin DiSilvestro (center) had a solid day in the pool for the Crimson (photo courtesy Gil Talbot).

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard began Saturday with a clean slate of sorts, opening Collegiate Water Polo Association Northern Division play at home in Blodgett Pool, but fell behind early in a 13-5 loss to Fordham and suffered a heartbreaking, four-overtime, 11-10, defeat at the hands of Iona.

Harvard (3-8, 0-2 CWPA) allowed four early goals in its opener Saturday against Fordham (8-7, 2-1 CWPA) and played catch-up for the rest of the game before falling, 13-5. Senior co-captain Bret Voith had two goals, a steal and an assist in the game to lead Harvard. Junior co-captain Luka Babic added a score and a helper as well.

Harvard took on Iona (2-6, 1-1 CWPA) in its second game of the day and fought valiantly tooth-and-nail with the Gaels until the very end, falling, 11-10, to a sudden-death goal with a minute to go in the fourth extra frame.

The Crimson was down 8-5 late in the third period before outscoring Iona, 4-1, in the fourth to tie the game at 9-9 and send it to overtime. Neither team scored in the first extra session. Junior goalie Alexandre Popp, who finished the Iona game with 21 total saves, scored a go-ahead goal in the second overtime from 30 meters away across the pool to give Harvard a 10-9 lead. Iona pulled even with a goal at 18 seconds to go and gave the Crimson one last shot to win it but it could not convert and the game went to sudden death.

"They played with heart," said Harvard head coach Ted Minnis. "They played for eight quarters and left it all in the pool. It was a well-played game by both teams."

Junior Mike Katzer led Harvard in the second game with three goals. Seniors Jeff Lee and Alex Thompson had two goals apiece for the Crimson in the nightcap. DiSilvestro added three assists while Voith had three take-aways.

The Crimson will host MIT in a non-conference matchup at 1 p.m. Saturday to wrap up its six-game homestand before heading west for five games, Oct. 8-10.

vs. Fordham