Oct. 24, 2004

Los Angeles, CA (Oct. 24) -- In a game that featured tight defense and solid goalkeeping, the sixth-ranked Loyola Marymount University men's water polo team could not overcome a scoreless first half as they fall to fourth-ranked UC Santa Barbara 6-3 at the Burns Recreation and Aquatics Center on Sunday afternoon.

Goals were at a premium as LMU sophomore goalie Ian Elliott did everything to keep the Lions in it with 14 saves. However, going 1-for-8 in extra-man attacks hurt the Lions as the Gauchos goalie Jon Bonafede made five saves in the fourth quarter and nine for the game. LMU falls to 13-8 on the year while UCSB goes to 17-6.

The Lions could not get their offense going in the first half as they attempted just eight shots, going 0-for-4 on extra-man attacks. Elliott kept the Lions within striking distance, making seven saves in the first half. UCSB did all the scoring, getting the first at 4:42 of the first quarter by Ross Sinclair. Brian Alexander scored at the 3:40 mark of the second quarter and then Chris Gronow made it 3-0 with just 13 seconds remaining in the first half.

Just 34 seconds into the second half the Lions got onto the scoreboard when Endre Rex-Kiss put the ball in the net to make the score 3-1. However, the teams would trade off goals in the third as UCSB would cap the scoring with just one second remaining for the three-goal lead. Brian McShane and Nick Oster each scored in the period for the Lions.

The fourth quarter saw the Lions earn two more extra-man opportunities but they could not capitalize.

LMU will head north next weekend as they take on fifth-ranked California on Oct. 29 at 11:00 a.m. The Lions will then play a doubleheader on Oct. 30 as they take on UC Davis at 11 a.m. and then UC Santa Cruz at 3:00 p.m., both in Davis.