Oct. 28, 2010

Weekly Release in PDF Format

One of the most successful classes to play at LMU will play in their final home game of the season, as the ninth-ranked LMU men's water polo team takes on Claremont in a Western Water Polo Association match-up at the Burns Aquatics Center, Saturday, Oct. 30 at 3 p.m. Nine seniors will be making their final Burns appearance, including six who have played all four years at LMU, winning titles in each of their first three seasons.

Lions' Multimedia Game Center Get complete in-depth information on the Lions' ninth week of the 2010 season:

INSIDE THE LIONS
The ninth-ranked Lions are coming off a big road win in WWPA play last Saturday, defeating rival UC San Diego, 7-4. With the win, the Lions are 12-7 overall, and 10-1 against the WWPA. The Lions are in the middle of a key stretch against WWPA foes, taking on their seventh straight team from the WWPA. The Lions will finish the season playing nine of their final 11 games against the WWPA. The Lions' defense was key once again in the win over UCSD, as they have allowed just seven goals in their two wins over the Tritons. Senior goalie Andy Stevens had 16 saves in last week's win, giving him 192 saves in 17.75 games worth of action (10.8 per game). After being one of the nation's leaders all 2009 in defense, allowing just 6.13 per game, the Lions enter the game against Claremont allowing 6.42 goals per game. Senior Ikaika Aki provides big help in front of the net for Stevens, adding 23 field blocks, 43 steals and spear-heading the offense with a team-best 27 assists. He adds 14 goals in the process and has also earn a WWPA Player of the Week honor, earning it on Sept. 8. Junior Edgaras Asajavicius leads the team lead in goals with 39, followed by senior Tibor Forai's 33. Forai now ranks 5th all-time with 176 career goals and eighth with 75 assists, while Asajavicius moved to 12th with 134. Aki is now 20th all-time in scoring with 94 goals, third with 91 assists and became the all-time career leader in steals with 157. In addition, both Andy Stevens and Ikaika Aki cracked the century mark in games played in their careers, with Aki ranking tied for 13th with 108 and Stevens in 15th with 106.

HOME FINALE
Nine LMU seniors will be making their final appearance at Burns Aquatics Center on Saturday, including seven who played four years at LMU. That list of seven include Ikaika Aki, Tibor Forai, Derek Milligan, Zach Mix, Albert Samuels, Daniel Smith and Andy Stevens. Of that group, six have won a title in their first three years, with championships coming in 2007, 2008 and 2009 (Mix did not play on 2008 team). Joining them for this season as senior transfers are Brian Flacks and Eric MacDonell. All told, the group played in 624 games as Lions.