Oct. 9, 2005

Los Angeles, CA (Oct. 9) - The ninth-ranked Loyola Marymount University men's water polo team continued its opening half struggles over the weekend, dropping an 8-3 decision to 12th-ranked Princeton at the Burns Recreation and Aquatics Center on Sunday morning. The Tigers jumped out to a 4-1 lead at the break and answered every goal of the Lions.

Loyola Marymount falls to 10-9 on the season while Princeton improves to 12-5 overall. The lack of production for the Lions in the 6-on-5 attack continue to hurt them as they went 1-for-11, including missed opportunities on a 6-on-4 and on a penalty shot, which was saved by Princeton goalie Gant Morgner.

Princeton took a 2-0 lead in the first frame on goals from Eric Vreeland (4:22) and the first of four goals from John Stover (1:10). The Lions answered on a Matt Reynolds goal with 3:52 remaining in the first half to cut the lead to 2-1. However, on the next two possessions the Tigers answered to go up 4-1 at the break.

LMU looked to creep back into the game with the first goal of the third frame as freshman Ratko Paunovic scored at the 4:53. However, Princeton answered once again with two straight goals on their next two possessions to make it 6-2. Morgner came up big with the penalty shot save on LMU senior Endre Rex-Kiss to preserve the four-goal lead. Morgner had nine saves on the day. LMU goalie Ian Elliott also had nine saves on the day.

Rex-Kiss finally scored in the fourth frame, making the lead 6-3 on the Lions' only extra-man goal of the game with 5:07 remaining. Like they had all afternoon, Princeton once again answered with two straight goals to put the game away.

The Lions have a tough stretch on the road as they take on Stanford on Friday, Oct. 14 before playing in the NorCal Invitational on Oct. 15-16. The NorCal will feature the nation's best teams at Stanford.

- GO LIONS -