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LOS ANGELES - Just 19.1 miles apart, LMU and Pepperdine have been battling one another for over a half century and it has grown to where 13 teams will face each other throughout the calendar year. And for the last decade, men's water polo has been the opening act in this long time rivalry.

The Lions will face the ninth-ranked Waves as part of a special doubleheader at the Burns Aquatics Center on Saturday, Sept. 17. The Lions will open the day with eighth-ranked UC Irvine at 10:30 am and then take on the Waves at 2:30 pm.

The doubleheader is being dubbed the Conference Challenge Cup and is presented by the Lions Athletic Fund. Tickets will be sold for this special doubleheader featuring the two opponents from the new Golden Coast Conference. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for children/seniors. Students and faculty/staff with LMU OneCard are free. Visiting students are $5.

Thanks to Greek Life and Sigma Phi Epsilon, the doubleheader will feature a special Pool Deck Tailgate Party for LMU students. Come out and be part of the rivalry. The game will feature special giveaways and more to support the Lions as the 2016-17 Wells Fargo PCH Cup gets underway. A reminder that Little Lions Club members get into the game free. Kids seventh grade or younger can be part of this special club. Visit the Little Lions Club web page to register

The Lions are 2-4 on the season and will play their fifth and sixth opponent on the early season ranked in the top-10. Sophomore Dayne Jagga is third in the Western Water Polo Association with 14 goals and sophomore Daniel Arellano leads the league in assists with 15. He is also tied for second in the league with 20 overall points.

As for the match-ups, the Anteaters are 3-2 on the season and goalie Matej Matijevic is the reigning GCC Player of the Week after 43 saves last weekend. As for Pepperdine, they are off to a 6-0 start. Marko Asic and Mark Urban led the team in scoring last year and have continued to do so this season. Asic has a team-high 22 goals already and has a .688 shooting percentage. Urban has 15 goals for the Waves and is second on the team with nine assists.

Support LMU's 22 intercollegiate teams and it's student-athletes through scholarships and team support by joining the Lions Athletics Fund. Your help will make LMU #LIONSTRONG.