April 28, 2018 Photo Gallery 
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Final Stats vs. San Diego State | GCC Tournament Central
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Loyola Marymount has defended their home pool through two games at this weekend's Golden Coast Conference Championships and has earned an opportunity to play for the conference title on Sunday afternoon. The Lions (18-14, 6-1 GCC) knocked off the third-seed No. 21 San Diego State (14-16, 5-2 GCC), 10-7, in Saturday's semi-finals behind three-goal performances from Morgan Molloy and Hana Vilanova.
After the Aztecs jumped ahead with the game's opening goal, LMU closed out the first period with three straight to take a 3-1 lead after one. Kiana Harpstrite and Morgan Molloy each took advantage of the extra attacker to put the Lions ahead and Abbey Grosse closed out the period when Vilanova found her for a goal with 31 seconds remaining.
The Lions extended the lead to open the second quarter as Molloy again capitalized with the extra player. In total, LMU converted five of nine powerplay situations.
After SDSU cut into the lead, making it 4-3, Katie Hungerford found Vilanova for a goal in the final two minutes of the half. San Diego State made it a one-goal game at the break with their converted opportunity in the final five seconds of the quarter.
The Aztecs evened the score at 5-all after scoring on their first possession following intermission. The two sides traded the next two goals as Hungerford put LMU ahead and SDSU tying it at 6-6 with 2:59 remaining in the third.
LMU's hat-trick pair closed out the third period with a goal apiece, making it a 8-6 advantage after three.
The Lions continued the attack to open the final quarter, with Vilanova then Lauren Owens each adding to the LMU lead.
San Diego State scored one final goal, but the 10-7 difference clinched LMU's spot in the GCC Championship Game which will be played Sunday at 2:30 p.m. back at Burns Aquatics Center.
Claire Wright earned her second win of the tournament, again playing all 32 minutes in goal for the home side, and making 12 saves for the second straight game.
The tournament bracket has held to form as the top seeds have won each game thus far. LMU will face top-seeded Pacific Saturday after the #7 team in the country won by eight over Azusa Pacific in the other semi-final.
LMU has won the GCC Tournament Championship twice since joining the conference in 2014, beating the one-seed in the final game both times. In the inaugural GCC Tournament in 2014, LMU won a three-overtime thriller to upend San Diego State 10-9. The 2015 Lions again topped the top-seeded Aztecs, 9-5, as the three-seed to become repeat champions.
Tickets for Sunday's games will be sold on-site at the LMU box office. The 7th Place game will begin the day 9:15 a.m., followed by the 5th Place game at 11:00 a.m., the 3rd Place game at 12:45 pm and the Championship at 2:30 p.m. All four games will be streamed live on YouTube and feature live stats through theFOSH. Links can be found on GCCWaterPolo.com on the Championships page.
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