March 19, 2011

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LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The sixth-ranked LMU women's water polo team saved the best for last, taking on a pair of ranked teams in the final day of the 2011 LMU Invitational at the Burns Recreation and Aquatics Center on Saturday. The Lions would come away with a sweep, earning a pair of hard-fought victories over No. 10 Long Beach State and No. 18 Princeton.

The Lions would take home a 5-4 win over the 49ers in their first game of the day, and then used a trio of fourth-quarter goals from sophomore Erin Manke to claim a come-from-behind 8-6 win over the Tigers in the tournament's final game.

Game No. 9 of the tournament might have been its best as the Lions took on Long Beach State for the second time on the season. The Lions won 9-5 at the UC Irvine Invitational in February.

It was a defensive battle through out as it was 2-2 at the break. The Lions would take a one-goal edge thanks to a third quarter shutout, taking a 3-2 lead thanks to Mary Anne Campos' goal with 6:00 to play in the quarter.

Diana Romero then scored on a 6-on-5 goal to give the Lions a big two goal lead, 4-2, with 6:24 to play. Coriann Snyder answered on a 6-on-5 from Long Beach State to cut it to 4-3 with 4:41 to play.

With another 6-on-5 opportunity, Morgan Bonk would capitalize to give the Lions a 5-3 lead. Long Beach State would score on a 5-meter penalty shot with 1.7 seconds left for the final margin.

In the final game of the tournament, the Lions took a 3-0 lead and look to be in cruise control after Hana Gosney scored with 7:06 to play in the second quarter. However, Princeton would score four unanswered goals to take a 5-4 lead with 6:05 to play on a five-meter goal from Molly McBee.

The Lions would answer, scoring two straight of their own, including Manke's first of the fourth quarter on a 6-on-5 attack to five the Lions a 6-5 lead with 4:58 to play.

Princeton would tie the game on a 6-on-5 goal of their own with 2:51 to play.

Manke would do it again, scoring with 2:18 to play on another 6-on-5 to give the Lions the 7-6 lead. Then, with less than a second to go on the shot clock, Manke scored on a lob shot from seven-meters with just 13 seconds to play to ice the game.

Freshman Alexandra Honny had four goals in the win over Princeton.

The Lions eight-game homestand continues when they host Cal State Bakersfield at 2 p.m., on March 23 at the Burns Aquatics Center.

Other action from Day Two of the 2011 LMU Invitational:

Game #8: Cal State San Bernardino 12, Colorado State 11
Cal State San Bernardino earned a big win in WWPA play, defeating Colorado State 12-11 in game No. 8 of the LMU Invitational. Caroline Young scored both of her goals in the fourth quarter, including the game winner with 2:03 to play on a 6-on-5 opportunity to break a 11-11 tie. Misty Vu led CSUSB with five goals.

Game #10: No. 18 Princeton 13, Sonoma State 4
The 18th-ranked Princeton Tigers earned a 13-4 win over Sonoma State in game No. 10 of the LMU Invitational. The Tigers built a 4-1 lead after one and a 7-1 lead at the break to win going away. Katie Rigler and Cayley Bowles had three goals each. Bridgette Souza had three for Sonoma State.

Game #11: Colorado State 14, Whittier 6
Colorado State scored six goals in the third quarter to lift them to a 14-6 win over Whittier in Game No. 11 of the LMU Invitational on Saturday. Orsi Hadasdy led the Rams with four goals. Mattie Winkler had 11 saves for Whittier.

Game #12: #10 Long Beach St. 12, CS San Bernardino 6
Long Beach State earned a 12-6 win over Cal State San Bernardino in Game No. 12 of the LMU Invitational. Nine different 49ers scored as Long Beach State shutout the Coyotes in the third quarter. Cal State San Bernardino's Bryanna Burns had 12 saves, including seven in the fourth quarter.

Game #13: Sonoma State 10, Whittier 3
Sonoma State earned a 10-3 win over Whittier in Game No. 13 of the LMU Invitational. The build a 3-1 lead at the break and then outscored Whittier 7-2 in the second half. Seven players had goals for Sonoma State.