Sept. 12, 2010

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Lions All-Access Postgame with Tibor Forai

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - After leading almost the entire first half, eighth-ranked LMU could not answer fourth-ranked USC in the second half as the Trojans used six unanswered goals to earn a 10-5 win at the Burns Aquatics Center Sunday afternoon.

Junior Edgaras Asajavicius gave the Lions a 5-4 lead with 1:25 left in the first half as the Lions looked the aggressor against the defending national champions. However, Peter Kurzeka, who had three goals on the day, scored with less than a second left in the half on a 6-on-5 to tie the game and start a string of six answered to lift USC over the Lions.

USC improves to 4-0 on the season while LMU falls to 4-2.

The Trojans used the extra-man attack to near perfection early, scoring their first five goals on the 6-on-5 to keep the game within two goals. USC would finish 6-for-14 on the 6-on-5 attack, while the Lions went 2-for-7.

USC scored just 22 seconds into the game on a 6-on-5 to take a 1-0 lead. However, the Lions scored the next three goals to take a 3-1 lead with 6:49 left in the second quarter. Albert Samuels, Ikaika Aki and Tibor Forai scored to give the Lions the edge.

The teams would trade 6-on-5 goals as LMU took a 4-2 lead on Derek Milligan's extra-man goal with 5:54 to play. Goals by Nikola Vavic and Mace Rapsey tied the game at 4-4 with 2:55 to play.

Asajavicius would then give the Lions the lead a minute later.

To start the third, LMU was called for three straight exclusions, but the defense held. The Lions also had a 6-on-5 chance, but could not score. With 3:30 to play, USC was awarded a penalty shot, and Vavic scored the five-meter to give USC the 6-5 lead. It proved to be the game winner.

Jeremy Davie, who also had three goals, would then add one more in the third to give USC a 7-5 lead. All seven goals came on exclusions or penalties. USC would go on to add three even-strength goals in the fourth quarter while LMU could not take advantage of a trio of opportunities with the man advantage.

The Lions will travel to the NorCal Invitational hosted by Cal on Sept. 18-19, opening with rival Pepperdine on Saturday at 9:20 a.m.