Sept. 15, 2012

Game 6 Box Score | Game 13 Box Score | NorCal Invite Central

STANFORD -- LMU men's water polo opened play at the 2012 NorCal Invitational hosted by Stanford with their second consecutive tough setback to a top-10 team, but then responded with an 18-goal outburst to split the opening day.

The Lions started the day dropping a 9-7 heartbreaker to No. 7 Pacific but then rebounded with an impressive 18-6 win over No. 18 Concordia on Saturday at Belardi Pool. The Lions are 2-2 on the season.

Mark Menis led the Lions on the day with five goals, including three in another comeback bid against Pacific. Seth Coldren had four goals in the win over Concordia.

Against the Tigers, the Lions trailed 5-3 at the break and then fell behind another goal in the third, trailing 7-4 heading into the final quarter. The Lions started to make a comeback cutting the lead down, but could never get the equalizer. In addition to Menis' three goals, Jon Colton, Milutin Mitrovic, Matt Stipanovich and Jake Villarreal scored for the Lions.

In the second game of the day, the Lions wasted little time in getting ahead and staying there. They took a 5-1 lead after one and then added eight more goals in the second quarter while giving up none for a 13-1 lead. LMU's margin never dipped below 10 the rest of the way.

In addition to Coldren's four goals in the win, John Mikuzis had three, Menis, Milutin Mitrovic, and Collin Walters added a pair each.

The Lions will take on the winner of Game #15 (No. 16 Air Forice vs. No. 11 UC San Diego) at 12:!5 p.m., Sunday at Belardi Pool.