May 15, 2010

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SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Playing their second straight top-ranked team on consecutive days, this time LMU women's water polo had No. 1 USC in a one-goal battle. However, the Trojans scored three unanswered goals to close the game, earning a 10-6 win over the Lions in the final semifinal of the 2010 National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championships Saturday evening at the Aztec Aquaplex.

The Lions, who defeated No. 1 UCLA (the Bruins and Trojans were tied atop the latest national poll) on Friday to advance to the semifinals, fall to 28-5 on the season and will play fourth-ranked Cal at 3:15 in the third place game on Sunday. USC will face Stanford for the national title at 5 p.m.

"Trying to figure out a place to start is pretty tough," said Head Coach Kyle Witt. "There was a lot of heart out there and that is why I am really excited for us to play tomorrow in that third-place game. I think we have the talent and I think we have the heart and desire to come back and do a quick turnaround and try and take that third-place game from Cal."

It was a game worthy of a national semifinal. The game featured three five-meter penalties, 16 ejections, two yellow cards and a one-goal game in the fourth quarter.

"This was a really hard fought game down to the end," said Witt. "By no means did we run out of game. By no means did we quit, which was something that I was really happy about. It just didn't go our way toward the end."

The Lions would play catch-up from the start. For the second straight game, the Lions saw the No. 1 team in the nation score on the first possession, this time it was USC's Kristen Dronberger at the 7:29 mark of the first period.

The Lead would grow to 2-0 before freshman Erin Manke scored with 5:20 to play to make it 2-1. USC once again took a two-goal lead, this time on a 6-on-5 goal from Nadia Dan with 3:11 to play. Diana Romero would cut the lead back to one, 3-2, with her goal at 1:42.

Like the game on Friday, the Lions entered the second quarter down 3-2. And like Friday, they would tie the game on a goal from Mary Ann Campos, this time with 2:42 to play.

Unlike Friday, USC would respond, closing out the half with goals from Joelle Bekhazi and Sarah Van Noman to take a 5-3 into the locker room. The teams would trade a pair of goals and the Lions trailed 7-5, when they drew a pair of kick-outs on USC with just over a minute in the quarter.

However, the Lions could not capitalize on the 6-on-4 and it remained a two-goal game heading into the fourth quarter. Then senior Hana Gonsey drew a five-meter just 40 seconds into the final frame, but the five-meter attempt was blocked by USC goalie Tumula Anae.

LMU remained composed and after the Lions and goalie Kristine Cato fought off a second USC 5-meter attempt, senior Anne Scott scored with 6:18 to play to cut the lead to 7-6.

"I was really proud of the way the girls played. They didn't get frustrated. We were down 7-6 in the fourth quarter and kept firing shots off and they didn't fall for us. They played through everything," said Witt.

With 4:48 to play, USC drew an ejection on Manke, her third of the game, and capitalized on the 6-on-5 to go up 8-6 with 4:31 to play. Less than a minute, they drew a third ejection on sophomore Casey Flacks and capitalized yet again on the 6-on-5, moving the lead to three, 9-6, with 3:42 to play. Van Norman added another goal for the Trojans a minute later for the final margin.

"I think we are not very happy with the outcome today and I, for one, am ready to get in the pool," said freshman goalie Kristen Cato, who had another stellar day with 10 saves. "If it was five minutes later, I would be ready to go. Honestly, I am ready to play the next game and forget about this game. It really did hurt to lose but that is just fuel for the fire to do the best we can tomorrow and go for third place."

USC finished 3-for-9 on the 6-on-5 attack and 0-for-2 on the penalty attempts. LMU went 1-for-5 and 0-for-1.