Box Score
LA JOLLA, Calif. – LMU men's water polo started their big week off with a road win under the lights against UC San Diego. The #13 Lions (3-5) and #11 Tritons (7-4) fought through several lead changes in the thrilling game, before LMU earned the victory
The Lions came out firing, score the game's first three goals to take a 3-0 lead.
David Carrasco and
Blazo Mitrovic each scored less than a minute into the game, with Carrasco following again at the 4:20 mark. The Tritons cut into the deficit, scoring the final two goals of the opening eight minutes to bring the score to 3-2.
UCSD tied the game then took the lead to open the in the opening minutes of the second period, before
Jonny Rimlinger evened things back up at 4-all off a Mitrovic assist. The two teams continued to trade off goals. The Tritons regained the lead 5-4 before Mitrovic scored his second of the day. Rimlinger then followed with the go-ahead goal before UC San Diego scored the final two of the half to hold a one-goal lead at intermission, 7-6.
It took less than a minute into the third quarter before Mitrovic evened the game at 7-7. After UCSD got one back, again it was Mitrovic who proved he had an answer and tied the game back up.
David Carrasco used an assist from the goalkeeper
Zach Zemliak to allow the Lions to retake the lead, 9-8. The game tied back up at 9-all before
Daniel Roth put the Lions back on top. UCSD retook the lead with two consecutive goals before
Austin Clark and Mitrovic went back-to-back to close out the period and give LMU the advantage, 12-11, heading into the final quarter.
UCSD tied the game at 12-12 with 7:28 to play before consecutive goals by Roth and Mitrovic game LMU the lead for good. The Tritons cut it to a one-goal game at the 4:01 mark before
Alexandros Athymaritis and Carrasco built the lead back up to three. The Tritons would not go away, scoring their second straight goal with 1:39 remaining to bring the score line to 16-15. Mitrovic added his game-high seventh-goal which turned into the game winner with 1:22 on the clock. UC San Diego scored once in the final minute but where stopped with a save by Zemliak in the final seconds to secure victory.
With the game's final save, Zemliak recorded a career-best 15 saves as LMU's goalkeeper.
LMU will be back on home on Friday to open the SoCal Invitational. The tournament begins at 1 p.m., with LMU's first game to be played against Pacific at 5 p.m.
