Feb. 27, 2011

IRVINE, Calif. - LMU women's water polo finished the loaded 2011 UCI Invitational exactly where they are ranked nationally, sixth, thanks to a 10-9 win over No. 7 San Diego State and then falling to No. 4 Cal in the fifth-place game, 9-7, at UC Irvine's Anteater Pool Sunday.

Of the 16-team field in this year's UCI Invitational entered the week ranked, including all of the top-10. The Lions defeated No. 12 Long Beach State and fell to No. 3 UCLA by a goal on Saturday. Top-ranked Stanford won the tournament, defeating No. 2 USC in the tournament's final. UCLA finished third, defeating No. 5 Hawaii, who finished fourth.

In the final day's opener for the Lions, five players scored two goals a piece and goalie Kristine Cato made a save in the final seconds to preserve the one-goal win. Cato finished with 12 saves in the win.

Daisy Carrillo, Morgan Bonk, Mary Ann Campos, Alexandra Honny and Kimberly Benedetti all scored in the back-and-forth contest.

The Lions then advanced to the fifth-place game against fourth-ranked Cal, who the Lions faced in the 2010 NCAA Championship third place game.

The game was another close one, as the teams were tied at 3-3 after the first period. Cal created separation in the second quarter, taking a 6-4 lead a the break. They would rely on that lead the rest of the way as the teams matched each other goal for goal the last two quarters.

Campos, Benedetti, and Erin Manke scored two goals each while Cato had seven saves.

The Lions will have a week off before hosting a tripleheader with UC Santa Barbara and Occidental on Saturday, March 12 at the Burns Aquatics Center. It will be the home opener for the Lions. LMU faces UCSB at 10:30 a.m., followed by Occidental taking on the Gauchos at 12:00 p.m. LMU will close the day taking on Occidental at 3:30 p.m.

San Diego State vs. Loyola Marymount
Box Score -- 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 --- F
SDSU -- 2 - 3 - 3 - 1 --- 9
LMU -- 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 --- 10
SDSU goals: Sarah Brady - 2, Leanne Ford - 3, Amber Pezzolla - 1, Ronni Gautschi - 1, Meaghan Poland - 1, Kimmy Keach - 1
LMU goals: Daisy Carrillo - 2, Morgan Bonk - 2, Mary Ann Campos - 2, Alexandra Honny - 2, Kimberly Benedetti - 2
Saves: Campoli (SDSU) - 11, Cato (LMU) - 12

Cal vs. Loyola Marymount
Box Score -- 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 --- F
Cal -- 3 - 3 - 2 - 1 --- 9
LMU -- 3 - 1 - 2 - 1 --- 7
Cal goals: Dana Ochsner - 4, Ashley Young - 2, Breda Vosters - 1, Kimberly McLaren - 1, Katie Monton - 1
LMU goals: Morgan Bonk - 1, Mary Ann Campos - 2, Erin Manke - 2, Kimberly Benedetti - 2
Saves: Peckham (CAL) - 10, Cato (LMU) - 7