Oct. 10, 2009

IRVINE, Calif. -- Trying to get into the semifinals of the annual UC Irvine Invitational (formally the SoCal Invitational) for the first time in program history, the LMU men's water polo team fell in a heartbreaker to fourth-ranked Cal, 9-8, in the quarterfinals at UC Irvine on Saturday night.

Cal's Zach White scored what proved to the game-winning goal with 1:15 left in the third quarter as Cal (10-3) held off No. 5 LMU (11-3) at Anteater Pool. White, who led the Bears with four goals, gave Cal a 9-7 lead that was cut to 9-8 on a score by LMU's Edgaras Asajavicius with 6:29 left in the game.

The Bears held off two extra-man opportunities by the Lions in the final quarter.

Asajavicius led the Lions with four goals and Andrew Aki added two more. Goalie Andy Stevens added 12 more saves to his total.

It was White's goal that produced the first two-goal lead by any team in the close affair. Cal led by one after the first frame and it remained at that margin as Cal led 5-4 at the break. Cal then build the two-goal difference with a four-goal fourth frame.

The Lions defense then did their part, holding the Bears scoreless in the fourth but the offense couldn't get the equalizer.

LMU will now face rival and seventh-ranked Pepperdine in Game No. 17 at 8 a.m.

California 9, Loyola Marymount 8
Loyola Marymount --- 2 - 2 - 3 - 1 --- 8
California --- 3 - 2 - 4 - 0 --- 9
Scoring: - LMU: Edgaras Asajavicius 4, Andrew Aki 2, Daniel Smith, Brian Benedetti; Cal: Zach White 4, Ivan Rackov 3, Luke Saponjic, Mike Sample.
Saves: Andy Stevens (LMU) 12; Wil Toppen (Cal) 6.