LA JOLLA, Calif. – LMU women's water polo fell behind 3-0, but climbed back to tie the game three times including twice in the fourth quarter. The #12 UC San Diego Tritons scored in the final second to take the game, 11-10, over the #17 Lions.
The Tritons scored all three goals of the first quarter to take the early lead.
Mollie Williams scored LMU's first goal of the day to open the second quarter. After UCSD added one,
Ruth Arino Ruiz and Williams scored less than a minute apart to pull the Lions within one. Alexandra Akritidoou evened the game at 4-all with 1:23 to play, but the home team took a 5-4 lead into halftime.
UC San Diego built their lead up to two with the opening goal of the second half before
Yanah Gerber converted on the powerplay less than a minute into the period. The Tritons converted a penalty and then an even-strength goal to increase their lead to three.
Marialena Seletopoulou scored back-to-back goals to cut the deficit to 8-7. UCSD took a 9-7 lead into the final period.
Seletopoulou scored her third goal of the half to open the fourth quarter.
Kelsey Snelgar followed at the 3:56 mark to tie the game at 9-9. After UCSD reclaimed the lead, Seletopoulou took advantage of the 6-on-5 and tied the score with 1:15 to play at 10-all. The Lions forced a turnover with 23 seconds on the clock but could not convert the go-ahead goal. The Tritons scored in the final seconds to get the game-winner with one tick left on the clock.
LMU held the Tritons scoreless on six powerplay attempts. The Lions converted three of four following an exclusion.
Elizabeth Bradley made 15 saves in her 32 minutes in LMU's cage.
The Lions will remain on the road for the next four games to open April.
