Sept. 20, 2009

STANFORD, Calif. - Junior Andrew Aki scored with 1:06 remaining in the first sudden-death overtime period to lift the fifth-ranked LMU men's water polo team to a 7-6 win over No. 8 UC Irvine in game No. 21 of the 2009 NorCal Invitational hosted by Stanford at Avery Pool on Sunday morning.

The Lions improve to 6-2 on the season and will face No. 6 UC Santa Barbara in the fifth place game of the prestigious tournament at 3:10 p.m. The Gauchos also advanced with an overtime win, defeating No. 7 Pepperdine 11-10.

While Aki won the game, it was his defense along with goalie Andy Stevens that was the difference. Aki had three steals and two field blocks to go with Stevens' career-best 18 saves. The save total is one better than his previous career best of 17, which he had done earlier this season.

It was a up-and-down battle the entire way as the Anteaters held a 3-1 lead at the break. However, Stevens and the Lions' defense shutout UC Irvine and the offense took advantage with a two-goal period to knot the game at 3-3.

Sophomore Edgaras Asajavicius and junior Daniel Smith each scored twice for the Lions.

The teams would then trade goals, three each, to send the game to extra frames at 6-6. After six combined goals in the final quarter, neither team could score in the two three-minute overtime periods, sending the game to sudden-death overtime and Aki's winner.

NorCal Game #21: #5 LMU 7, #8 UC Irvine 6 (SDOT)
UCI --- 1 - 2 - 0 - 3 - 0 - 0 - 0 --- 6
LMU --- 0 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 0 - 0 - 1 --- 7
Scoring: UCI - Frank 3, Enloe, Jevtovic, Johnson. LMU - Asajavicius 2, Smith 2, Aki, Colton, Milligan.
Saves:UCI - Johnson 10. LMU - Stevens 18.