IRVINE, Calif. - Loyola Marymount men's water won their second conference game in as many days after defeating Concordia, 12-7, on Saturday. The #20 Lions (9-9, 4-1 WWPA) allowed the opening then never trailed again to the host Eagles (4-15, 1-5 WWPA).
Concordia won the opening sprint and scored on the ensuing possession just 23 seconds into the match. The Lions then answered with the remaining five goals of the quarter to close out the first ahead, 5-1. Dayne Jagga scored on LMU's first possession following an exclusion. Alexandros Athymaritis gave the Lions the lead at the 3:48 mark and Daniel Arellano pushed it to a 3-1 game just over a minute later. Daniel Arellano then found Blazo Mitrovic for a goal with 1:04 to play. Arellano totaled three assists in the opening quarter. Mitrovic added his second goal of the period with just two seconds remaining on the clock, which followed an Austin Clark steal.
Similar to the first quarter, Concordia won the opening sprint and scored on their ensuing possession. The Eagles cut it to a 5-3 game with 4:55 left on the clock, before the Lions closed out the quarter with two consecutive goals. Joseph Shaw scored with 1:30 and Athymaritis followed with 13 seconds before the halftime whistle.
LMU scored the only two goals of the third quarter to extend their lead to 9-3 after three. The Lions scored early and late in the period, with Clark putting one away and the 7:29 mark and Arellano closing out the quarter with just three seconds remaining.
Athymaritis gave the Lions their largest lead of the afternoon after scoring a minute and a half into the final quarter. Concordia scored the next two, but Shaw doubled up his total with his second of the day making it an 11-5 game. Concordia scored two of the final three goals to close out the game, with Edward Moss finishing one for the Lions, but LMU's 12-7 lead was enough to give them their fourth conference win of the season.
Getting the start, Zach Zemliak recorded 10 saves and 3 steals over his complete game, 32 minute effort.
The Lions and UC San Diego each sit at 4-1 in the WWPA, with LMU traveling to 5-0 UC Davis on Thursday.
LMU will close out the home portion of their schedule on Sunday morning. Princeton comes to Burns Aquatic Center for a 10 p.m. match. Senior day recognitions will follow for LMU's senior class.
