LA JOLLA, Calif. – LMU women's water polo (4-4) opened the 2020 UCSD Triton Invitational with a rematch against #12 Long Beach State. The #16 Lions held tight with The Beach, before ultimately dropping the opening game of the tournament by a goal, 8-7. LMU responded in the second game of the day, beating Villanova, 19-5.
 
GAME 1: #12 LBSU 8, #16 LMU 7
 
Melyssa Moore opened the action with a goal less than 30 seconds into the game. After Long Beach State tied it up, Kelsey Snelgar scored her first of the day to take a 2-1 lead. Serena Zafiris pushed the lead to two goals at the 2:34 mark, but LBSU added one with a minute to go in the quarter to make it a 3-2 LMU advantage.
 
After LBSU tied the score in the second quarter, Isabella Barajas put the Lions back on top with her goal with 5:29 remaining in the half. The Beach scored consecutive goals late in the period to take a 5-4 advantage into intermission.
 
After falling down two goals, Alena Sanchez earned one back for the Lions, scoring with 4:34 to play in the third. The two teams traded off the remaining goals in the quarter, as LMU responded with under a minute to play with a Snelgar goal to make it a 7-6 game.
 
Long Beach State built up another two-goal advantage with 2:36 to play in the final period. LMU was able to score once more, with a goal by Alexandra Akritidou, but could not muster up the equalizer in the closing minutes.
 
Elizabeth Bradley made nine saves in goal for the Lions.
 
GAME 2: #16 LMU 19, Villanova 5
 
The Lions earned a wire-to-wire victory in the second game of the day. LMU took a 7-2 lead after the first quarter, led 12-3 at halftime, went ahead 15-4 after three quarters, and won the game 19-5.
 
Elizabeth Bradley added nine saves for the second time of the tournament.
 
UP NEXT
 
The UCSD Triton Invitational continues with two games on Sunday. LMU will open the day at 10:40 a.m. from Canyonview Pool. Based on Saturday's results the Lions will open the day against #21 San Diego State before playing again at either 4:00 p.m. or 5:20 p.m.