Feb. 12, 2011

LA JOLLA, Calif. - The LMU women's water polo team improved to 6-1 on the young season with a sweep in group play of the 2011 UC San Diego Triton Invitational on Saturday, defeating Cal State East Bay 14-6 and Cal State Northridge 11-6.

With the sweep, the Lions advance to the championship side of the bracket on Sunday and will face No. 7 Michigan in the second semifinal at 12:30 p.m. No. 3 UCLA and No. 9 San Diego State also advanced and will play in the first semifinal at 11:10 a.m. All four were the top seed in each of their groups.

In the opener against Western Water Polo Association foe CS East Bay, the Lions trailed after one, 3-1. They would recover down the stretch as the defense held the Pioneers to just one goal in each of the final quarter.

The Lions would go up a goal at the break, 5-4, thanks to a four-goal second frame. They matched that output in the third to go up 9-5. They then put the game away with a five-goal fourth quarter.

Casey Flacks, Alexandra Honny and Erin Manke scored three goals each in the win while Kristine Cato had 14 saves.

In game two the Lions once again started even and used a strong second half to pull away.

They found themselves tied at 3-3 with the 13th-ranked Matadors after one, but then Cato and the Lions defense posted shutouts in both the second and third quarters.

With the shutouts, the Lions took a 4-3 at the break and then stretched the lead to 6-3 after three. They then scored five fourth quarter goals for the second straight game to pull away.

Manke added three more goals for the day, while senior Diana Romero also had three.

LMU 14, CS East Bay 6
CSEB --- 3 - 1 - 1 - 1 ---- 6
LMU --- 1 - 4 - 4 - 5 ---- 14
LMU Goals: Flacks 3, Honny 3, Manke 3, Campos 2, Bonk, Gosney
Cal State East Bay Goals: Pierce 2, Crain, Grunberger, Kennedy-Donohue, Warren
Saves: Cato (LMU): 14; Pekarske (CSUEB): 9

LMU 11, CS Northridge 6
CSUN --- 3 - 0 - 0 - 3 ---- 6
LMU --- 3 - 1 - 2 - 5 --- 11
Loyola Marymount Goals: Manke 3, Romero 3, Benedetti, Bonk, Carrillo, Flanks, Honny
Cal State Northridge Goals: Doll 2, Delgado, Mespm, Pettinger, Photopulos
Saves: Concialdi (CSUN): 5; Cato (LMU): 8