Sept. 19, 2009

STANFORD, Calif. -- Redshirt sophomore Max Schlegel gave LMU men's water polo their sixth goal midway through the fourth quarter and it proved to be a big one as they held on to defeat Western Water Polo Association rival UC San Diego, 6-5, in game eight of the 2009 NorCal Invitational at Stanford on Saturday afternoon.

The seventh-ranked Lions built a 5-2 lead heading into the fourth quarter and thanks to Schlegel's goal held off a three-goal rally by the 17th-ranked Tritons. With the win the Lions run their winning streak against WWPA foes to 21 and improve to 5-1 on the season. UCSD falls to 3-5 on the year.

LMU won another defensive battle against the Tritons, thanks to the defense, led by goalie Andy Stevens, who had yet another double-digit save game with 13. He has made 27 in the last two games and has had 10 or more saves in five of the Lions' six games. Sophomore Edgaras Asajavicius led the Lions with two goals.

With the win, LMU advances to the winners bracket at the demanding NorCal Invitational, which features 15 ranked teams in the 16-team field. LMU will play No. 4 UCLA in Game #16 at 5:50 p.m.

NorCal Game #8: #5 LMU 6, #17 UCSD 5
UCSD --- 1 - 0 - 1 - 3 --- 5
LMU --- 2 - 1 - 2 - 1 --- 6
Scoring: UCSD - Cruz, Donohoe, Gresham, Madsen, Roberts. LMU - Asajavicius 2, Benedetti, Samuels, Schlegel, Smith.
Saves: UCSD - Morton 6. LMU - Stevens 13.