Los Angeles, Calif., -- The 12th-ranked Loyola Marymount men's water polo team used a strong second-half effort to power its way past No. 11 Massachusetts, upsetting the Minutemen 9-6 Saturday at the Burns Recreation Center Pool.

Junior Kyle Witt got LMU on the board first by fighting free from his defender and rattling the back of the cage 1:42 into the game. UMass answered with two consecutive goals, the second coming on a long-range shot from sophomore Ricardo Puig. However the momentum swung back in the Lions favor as freshman Kris Barr's attempt rolled past the goal line with just 0.9 seconds remaining in the opening period.

Neither team could mount much of an offensive attack in the second quarter, mustering just one goal each as they entered the lockerroom tied 3-3.

Loyola Marymount came out as the aggressor in the third stanza as Kyle Witt scored his second goal of the game off an assist from senior John Peterson at the 4:52 mark. Sophomore Kevin Witt then increased the home team's lead to 5-3 when he drove the ball the length of the pool and connected on a shot with 3:20 remaining in the third.

Meanwhile the Lion defense clamped down, allowing only three Massachusetts goals in the second half. Kevin Witt put an exclamation mark on the upset with his third score of the game at the 2:35 mark of the fourth quarter.

The victory was LMU's third in a row and increased its overall record to 10-5 on the season. The Minutemen fell to 16-5 with the loss.

Loyola Marymount concludes its current five-game homestand on Thursday, Oct. 19 when Whittier College visits the Burns Recreation Center Pool for a 5:00 p.m. showdown.

1 2 3 4 F
Massachusetts 2 1 1 2 6
Loyola Marymount 2 1 3 3 9

LMU scoring: Ke. Witt (3), Eisberg (2), Ky. Witt (2), Barr, Chapatte
UMass scoring: Foley (3), Ramos, Puig, Lutz
Saves: LMU-Paulsen (6); UMass-Vanderwall (3)