Sept. 4, 2010

Photo Gallery

Lions' All-Access Postgame - featuring John Loughran
Photo Gallery
Game 1 Scoresheet in PDF Format
Game 2 Scoresheet in PDF Format

LA JOLLA, Calif. - The LMU men's water polo team opened the 2010 season with a pair of ranked opponents in the first day of the Triton Invitational at UC San Diego on Saturday. The Lions opened with a tough 9-7 setback to No. 10 Pacific and then rebounded to knock-off conference rival and 11th-ranked UCSD, 7-3, just several hours later.

It was a tale of two defenses within those four hours, as they allowed nine goals in the opening game, including six by Goran Tomasevic. However, they rebounded in game two, holding UCSD to just three, including just one in the second half. Goalie Andy Stevens had 14 saves against the Tritons and finished with 24 in the two games.

This morning we were a little rusty. I think we weren't as competitive as we can be," said Head Coach John Loughran, who was back coaching for the first time since becoming diagnosed with APL in December of 2009. "We just didn't take advantage of the opportunities we were given in the first game"

The Lions went 2-for-12 on the extra-man attack against Pacific but rebounded to go 4-for-6 against UC San Diego.

"In the second game we were a little more relaxed and had fun. Playing UC San Diego at San Diego is always a huge game for us," said Loughran.

In the opener, the Lions fell down 2-0 early, but managed to tie the game at 2-2 to in the first quarter with a five-meter goal by Tibor Forai, who finished the game with four goals and the day with six, and then a 6-on-5 goal from Brian Flacks.

The teams once again traded two goals each in the second quarter to send the game into half tied at 4-4.

Pacific would then take over the game with back-to-back goals in the first minute of the third quarter to take a 6-4 lead. They would stretch the lead to 7-4 to start the fourth period. The teams would trade goals the final five minutes of the game as Pacific held the two-goal edge.

Against UCSD, the Lions trailed early 1-0 before scoring two straight, the first by Forai and the second by Max Schlegel to take a 2-1 lead with 6:01 to play in the half. UCSD would scored the equalizer with less than a minute to play. However, taking advantage of a late exclusion, Albert Samuels started a string of four straight goals, scoring with just 17 seconds left to send the Lions up 3-2 at the break.

They would lead the rest of the way as the Edgaras Asajavicius, Forai and Samuels would add to the run and put LMU up 6-2 with 4:22 left in the game. The teams would trade scores to end the game for the final margin.

The Lions continue play at the Triton Invitational on Sunday, taking on No. 19 Air Force at 9 a.m., then battling La Verne at 12:30 p.m.