LA JOLLA, Calif. – LMU opened Sunday's competition with a non-conference matchup against GCC foe San Diego State, topping the Aztecs, 12-8. This set the Lions into the 9^th-Place game against UC Davis. LMU upset the Aggies with a fourth quarter comeback, 8-7.
 
GAME 1: #16 LMU 12, #21 SDSU 8
 
The Lions scored first to open the game, with Melyssa Moore giving LMU a 1-0 lead at the 6:22 mark. After SDSU tied it up less than a minute later, Kelsey Snelgar and Alena Sanchez closed out the period with a goal apiece to give LMU a 3-1 advantage.
 
The Aztecs scored more than halfway into the second quarter to cut into their deficit, but LMU closed out the half with four unanswered goals. Megan Plank and Yanah Gerber extended the lead before Sanchez scored consecutive goals to make it a 7-2 lead at the break.
 
With four of the five goals scored in the third quarter, SDSU made it a much closer game entering the final eight minutes. Plank's goal at the 2:35 was sandwiched between four Aztec goals, with the final two coming in at 36 and 5 seconds remaining, respectively.
 
Alexandra Akritidou opened the fourth quarter with an opening minute goal to extend the lead to 9-6. After San Diego State earned one back, Sanchez scored her third of the game to bring the three-goal advantage back. With three minutes to play, SDSU made it a 10-8 game, but Gerber scored consecutive goals at the 1:42 mark and 1:03 mark to ensure the 12-8 victory.
 
GAME 2: #16 LMU 8, T-9 UC Davis 7
 
LMU jumped ahead 2-0 with goals by Kelsey Snelgar and Alena Sanchez. UC Davis responded with a pair of goals to close the period and even the score at 2-all.
 
The run turned into five unanswered as UC Davis scored the first three goals of the second quarter, taking a 5-2 lead with 3:31 to play in the half. With 1:09 on the clock, Isabella Barajas scored a powerplay goal to bring the score to 5-3 heading into intermission.
 
Melyssa Moore made it a one-goal game at the 5:34 mark of the third quarter. After the Aggies got one back, Barajas scored another to bring the score within one again with 3:01 to play in the third. The two teams traded goals once again as UCD scored and Snelgar responded to close out the period down a goal, 7-6.
 
On the powerplay, Sanchez evened the score at 7-all with 3:34 on the clock. On the ensuing possession, the Lions countered and benefitted from a Yanah Gerber game-winning goal.
 
Up Next
 
The Lions will take a week off of competition before heading to Irvine for the UC Irvine Invitational on Feb. 21-23.