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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Lions will remain at home for another week, hosting Princeton this upcoming Saturday for an 11am game.