Nov. 12, 2009

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- The sixth-ranked LMU men's water polo team ended the regular season with an 8-6 setback to No. 8 Long Beach State at the Long Beach State Campus Pool on Thursday night. LMU scored four fourth quarter goals but it wasn't enough to overcome 7-1 early deficit.

The Lions fall to 16-7 on the season and will await for the seedings of the 2009 Western Water Polo Association Championships to be announced on Monday. The Lions, who are a perfect 11-0 in the WWPA this season, are expected to earn the No. 1 seed.

Junior Andrew Aki scored a season-best four goals for the Lions.

Long Beach State jumped out to a 3-0 lead and held a 4-1 edge at the break. They then scored the first three goals of the third period to jump on the Lions, 7-1.

LMU would score the final goal of the third quarter and the first of the final frame to cut the lead to 7-4. Alexsandr Petrovic then scored a goal with 2:37 seconds left in the game for a four-goal cushion. LMU scored twice more in the final two minutes for the final margin.

SCORING BY PERIOD:
LMU: 0-1-1-4 --- 6
LBSU: 3-1-3-1 --- 8
LBSU GOALS: Petrovic -3, Greenwood-2, Ju. Koeppen, Jo. Koeppen, Luth
LMU GOALS: Aki -4, Forai, Asajavicius
LBSU SAVES: Wiebe-Bailey -15
LMU SAVES: Stevens -9