LA JOLLA, Calif. – For the first time since the 2015 season, LMU men's water polo has defeated UC San Diego in a designated WWPA conference game. The #15 Lions moved to 4-0 in the Western Water Polo Association after beating the #11 Tritons for the first time this season. LMU claimed a 10-7 win after outscoring UCSD 8-3 after the first quarter.
 
Blazo Mitrovic opened the scoring with a powerplay goal in the first quarter. UCSD responded with the next three goals to take their largest lead of the game with 4:38 to play in the opening period. Luke Chandler got one back for the Lions with 1:39 on the clock, before the Tritons closed the period with a goal with 24 seconds remaining to take a 4-2 lead.
 
LMU scored all three goals of the second quarter with Alex Marlow scoring at 5:30, David Carrasco scoring at 4:05, and Tyler Harvey giving the Lions the lead at 3:34.
 
The Tritons tied the game at 5-all in the first minute coming out of the half. Mitrovic pushed LMU back ahead by one before San Diego equalized with five minutes remaining in the quarter. Mitrovic again provided the go-ahead score, and Carrasco added his second of the day to give LMU an 8-6 edge in the last minute of the third.
 
Joseph Cavazos gave LMU a game-high four goal lead, scoring with 6:54 on the clock in the fourth quarter. Neither team would score again until UC San Diego got one back with 1:49 to play, before time expired.
 
Robert Halligan earned the win in goal, making 11 saves and adding three steals.
 
The Lions will return home this week to continue conference play, hosting Cal Baptist on Thursday and Fresno Pacific on Saturday.