Oct. 22, 2009

Final Stats

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LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- It wasn't until the 2:23 mark of the second quarter that the LMU men's water polo team registered their first shot on goal, and the result was a hole to big to dig out of to fourth-ranked UCLA. The Bruins kept the Lions off the board in the first half to register a 10-5 victory at the Burns Recreation and Aquatics Center on Thursday afternoon.

With the result, both teams see their records go to 13-5 on the season as the Lions drop their first game at home in five tries this season. All five of the Lions' setbacks on the year have come to teams ranked in the top-five nationally.

The Lions struggled on the offensive end in the first half, getting just one shot on goal and taking just two shots in the second quarter overall. The lack of offense put the Lions down 4-0 at the break as UCLA got goals from four different players.

LMU was the first to get on the board thanks to a five-meter penalty goal by Tibor Forai. UCLA matched that goal with a 6-on-5 tally just over a minute later.

The lead was cut to three once again as Albert Samuels scored with 4:01 remaining in the third quarter, making the score 5-2. However, UCLA answered once again on yet another 6-on-5 goal, this one less than a minute later.

LMU managed to get the lead down to three again with a goal from Brian Benedetti to close the third quarter. As was the case all game, the Bruins answered again, scoring the first goal of the fourth quarter. LMU cut the lead to three one more time, this time on a goal from Edgaras Asajavicius with 6:09 to play.

UCLA then rattled off three straight goals to put the game away.

The Lions continue to take on southern California's best as they head to No. 1 USC on Saturday for a 2:30 p.m. contest.