LOS ANGELES – Playing in front of the home crowd at Burns Aquatics Center for the first time in over a year and a half, #20 LMU men's water polo and #10 Pepperdine played a thrilling overtime match. The two teams traded leads before Pepperdine (4-3) ultimately came out on top, 11-10, over the Lions (2-3).
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The two teams traded the game's first four goals, with
Alexandros Athymaritis and
Daniel Roth providing early equalizing goals.
Jack Baumgardner took advantage of a powerplay in the final minute to give LMU a 3-2 advantage after the first eight minutes.
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The Waves took a one-goal lead into halftime after Pepperdine's Nico Tierney scored the only two goals for either team in the second period.
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Pepperdine extended their lead to start the third quarter, but LMU scored three times in the final 1:42 to close out the period with a 6-5 lead.
Tyler Harvey cut into the deficit,
Jonny Rimlinger tied the game, and Baumgardner pushed the Lions back on top.
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Robert Halligan saved two 5-meter penalty shots in the third quarter on back-to-back possessions as part of his career-high 19 save performance.
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Athymaritis pushed the Lions ahead, 7-5, with 6:53 remaining in regulation. After the Waves got one back,
Blazo Mitrovic converted a goal with LMU on the advantage to give the two-goal lead back to the Lions halfway through the period. Pepperdine would score with 3:22 to play and then tie the game on a penalty shot in the final 32 seconds and force overtime.
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In overtime, it was Pepperdine that struck first scoring with 29 seconds showing on the clock. With four seconds remaining, LMU's All-American Mitrovic converted a penalty shot of his own to keep the game tied heading into the second extra session.
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The Lions jumped ahead first, with Athymaritis scoring from distance with 1:46 to play.  Pepperdine tied the game with 15 seconds to play then scored the game-winner with just a second remaining on the clock to put an end to the PCH Cup.
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The Lions will remain at home for another week, hosting Princeton this upcoming Saturday for an 11am game.
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