Sept. 4, 2004

Annapolis, MD (Sept. 4) - The Loyola Marymount University men's water polo team scored four goals in the final five minutes including the game winner with 2:07 remaining by senior Sean Wimer to open the 2004 season with a 10-9 win over 11th-ranked Navy in game one of the Navy Invitational in Annapolis, MD. The Lions entered the fourth and final quarter down 8-6 and saw Navy extend its lead to three with a goal at the 5:42 mark by Andy Ratcliff. However, the Lions would not let their season opener and the program's furthest trip east in its 15-year history go to waste. Sophomore transfer Brian McShane scored his second goal of the game to start the Lions rally with 4:53 remaining in the game to cut the lead to 9-7. At the 3:19 mark Wimer would score his second of three goals to make the score 9-8. Less than 30 seconds later sophomore Ben Easton would tie the game at 9-9 to set-up Wimer's winner just 40 seconds later. The Lions would hold the one goal lead despite getting tagged with two ejections in the final two minutes. In the rally, LMU scored four goals in less than three minutes to start the season 1-0. Navy never trailed in the game until the final two minutes. The Midshippmen started the game with a goal just 18 seconds in to jump out to the early lead. The game would enter halftime with Navy up by one, 5-4. This was the second straight match between the two teams as they played each other in the third place game of the 2003 NCAA Men's Water Polo Championships in December. LMU defeated Navy 10-7. Adding two goals for the Lions was senior Patrick Reily. LMU will continue play in the Navy Invitational with Iona in the afternoon game on Saturday.

Box Score
#8 LMU	2	3	2	4	--	10
#11 Navy	3	2	3	1	--	9
Goals - LMU: Wimer (3), McShane (2), Reilly (2), Easton, Rex-Kiss, Marshall.
Navy: Rollo (3), Ratcliffe (3), Gentry, Owre, Morey.

- GO LIONS -