Feb. 13, 2011

LA JOLLA, Calif. - The sixth-ranked LMU women's water polo team finished the loaded 2011 UC San Diego Triton Invitational with a second place trophy, defeating No. 7 Michigan, 10-7, in the tournament semifinal and then falling in another tight one with No. 3 UCLA, 12-9, in the tournament's title game.

The Lions move their record to 7-2 on the season, with both losses coming to the No. 1 and No. 3 team in the nation.

"We are a good team, for us, it is now about figuring out how to become a great team. We are excited about what we are capable of achieving," said Head Coach Kyle Witt. "Tonight we were right there with UCLA, but just a couple of fundamental mistakes on defense cost us some key goals that just put us in a hole we couldn't work out of. "

It was defense that had the Lions rolling in the semifinal as Kristine Cato came away with 20 saves and the Lions once again showed their strength in the fourth quarter outscoring Michigan 4-1. They finished the tournament with 16 goals in the fourth quarter in four games.

Against the Wolverines, the Lions trailed 4-3 after the first and 5-4 at the break.

"The thing about the counterattack is that it wears down opponents and we did a good job in the fourth quarter. Our team is very committed to pick-up their intensity every minute of every game," said Witt. "However, we weren't very good in the first quarter. That one is on me. I have to have us in a position to come out fast from start to finish."

The Lions then tied the game with a pair of goals in the third. They then took over with four straight goals as Erin Manke added three more goals to her six from Saturday.

"Our defense kept it tight, but we missed so many shots early, our team could have gotten frustrated. We were missing goals, not shots," said Witt. "We did a great job of staying composed and staying aggressive."

In the final it was goal-for-goal through the first half. Both team scored three goals in the first and second periods to go into the locker room at 6-6

This time the Bruins went on a run, just enough to get a multi-goal lead that the Lions couldn't overcome. UCLA led 9-7 after three and then tacked on another goal to that cushion by outscoring the Lions 3-2 in the final frame.

Mary Ann Campos scored three goals against the Bruins, while Casey Flacks and Diana Romero added two each.

The Lions will turn around and head right back to La Jolla to take on Western Water Polo Association rival UC San Diego on Friday, Feb. 18 at 6 p.m.

No. 6 LMU 10, No. 7 Michigan 7
LMU --- 3 - 1 - 2 - 4 ---- 10
Mighian --- 4 - 1 - 1 - 1 ---- 7
Loyola Marymount Goals: Cerda 3, Make 3, Flacks 2, Benedetti, Campos
Michigan Goals: Orth 2, Colton, Felt, Mantel, Moore, Pratt
Saves: Cato (LMU): 20; Adamson (Michigan): 10

No. 3 UCLA 12, No. 6 LMU 9
UCLA --- 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 ---- 12
LMU --- 3 - 3 - 1 - 2 --- 9
UCLA Goals: Martin 3, Easterday 2, P. Orozco 2, Burmeister, Clark, Greenwood, S. Orozco, Umphrey
Loyola Marymount Goals: Campos 3, Flacks 2, Romero 2, Carrillo, Honny
Saves: Hill (UCLA): 7; Cato (LMU): 7