Sept. 28, 2002
Los Angeles, CA (Sept. 22, 2002) -- The Loyola Marymount University men's water polo team used a five-goal third quarter to open up a closely played contest for a 10-6 win over UC Santa Barbara on Saturday afternoon in front of 377 at the Burns Recreation and Aquatics Center.
With the game knotted at 4-4 entering halftime, the Lions (ranked tenth in the nation) scored five unanswered goals to start the third quarter to build a 9-4 lead with 1:24 remaining in the third frame. UC Santa Barbara (ranked No. 12) would score with 48 seconds remaining to cut the lead to four. However, that was a close as they would get, as LMU improves to 5-5 on the season and UCSB falls to 2-6.
"We really started the second half with a boost," said Head Coach John Loughran. "We scored three straight goals that helped us build a solid lead. Our defense was also much better in third quarter, which allowed our offense to get us the lead."
Leading the charge at both ends in the second half was senior Kevin Witt, who scored two of his three goals in the second half. Senior Eric Lefebvre gave the Lions the lead for good with 6:46 to play in the third quarter, 5-4. Witt would then score two straight for the 7-4 advantage. Junior Tamas Szego and freshman Endre Rex-Kiss added a goal in the third. Rex-Kiss finished the game with three goals, giving him his second straight game with a hat-trick.
"Kevin Witt did a really good job on defense in the second half," said Loughran. "His outside shooting is getting much better which really helps us. Endre once again did very well, especially on the six-on-five situations."
The game started with each team trading goals. LMU would score first with 4:50 remaining on a shot by junior Kris Barr. The Gauchos answered right back just 31 seconds later on one of two goals by Ian Christensen. The Lions regained the lead at the 1:34 mark with Rex-Kiss hitting his first on the day. UCSB answered again, scoring 30 seconds later on a goal by David Letts.
It was more the same in the second period as LMU broke the 2-2 tie on a six-on-five goal by Rex-Kiss at the 6:23 mark. UCSB's Andrew Schoneberger answered 29 seconds later to tie the score at 3-3. Witt would break the tie with a goal at 3:47 remaining before Christensen earned his second to tie it at 4-4.
The win has the Lions heading into its showdown against top-ranked Stanford on a two-game win streak against teams in the top-12. The Lions will take on the Cardinal at Burns Recreation and Aquatics Center, Sunday, Sept. 29 at 12 noon.
-GO LIONS-
Box Score
UC Santa Barbara 2 2 1 1 -- 6
Loyola Marymount 2 2 5 1 -- 10
Goals: LMU - Endre Rex-Kiss 3, Kevin Witt 3, Tamas Szego, Ryan Chapatte, Kris Barr, Eric Lefebvre;
UCSB - Ian Christensen 2, David Letts, Steven Traverso, Andrew Schoneberger, Anthony Borasi.
Saves: LMU - Kevin Paulsen 6; UCSB - Sherwin Kim 7.
