Sept. 3, 2005

La Jolla, CA (Sept. 3) - The Loyola Marymount University men's water polo team opened the 2005 season with a 7-5 win over No. 11 UC Santa Barbara in first day of play at the UC San Diego Triton Invitational in La Jolla, Calif.

Junior two-meter Brian McShane did most of the damage for the Lions, scoring a goal in each of the first three quarters for the hat-trick. McShane led the Lions to its sixth win in 17 meetings against the Gauchos.

The Lions took a 2-0 lead at the end of one after McShane and junior Cutberto Hernandez each scored. After a goal by UCSB, Ben Easton made it 3-1 at the break.

After just four goals in the first two periods combined, the teams added four in the third as the Lions to a 6-2 lead after three. McShane, senior Endre Rex-Kiss and Hernandez each scored in the third.

UCSB would then answer with three straight to make it a 6-5 game. However, Rex-Kiss added his second of the game with 2:18 remaining for the final cushion.

LMU will finish the first day in Group D play with Pomona-Pitzer, who lost to UCSB earlier in the day 11-4, at 6:55 p.m.

- GO LIONS -