RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The 10^th-ranked LMU men's water polo team erased an early deficit to come back and defeat Concordia University Irvine, 19-13, in Saturday's first game of the 2023 Lancer Joust.
 
The Golden Eagles took a first-quarter lead, scoring four goals in the opening eight minutes. Jonny Rimlinger and Abel Romero Corbalan accounted for a goal apiece for the Lions to make it a 4-2 game after the opening eight minutes.
 
After Concordia scored a penalty shot on their opening possession, the reigning WCC Player of the Week Tommaso Baldineti converted on a powerplay for the Lions on their first possession of the quarter. CUI added a second penalty goal less than two minutes into the quarter before Rimlinger and Baldineti went back-to-back to bring the Lions back within one. Concordia built up a 7-5 lead before LMU closed out the period with three unanswered goals. Baldineti, Augie Renezeder, and Rimlinger each scored over the final 3:44, with Rimlinger giving the Lions their first lead with just three seconds to play until halftime.
 
LMU was able to separate themselves in the third quarter, outscoring Concordia 7-2 in the period. The Golden Eagles scored the first goal of the half before the Lions rattled off six unanswered goals. Renezeder scored on back-to-back possessions, Tyler Harvey and Baldineti each added two, and Denzel Tate scored one of his own. The Lions allowed a goal in the final period of the quarter to take a 15-9 lead into the final session.
 
Renezeder scored his season-high fourth goal to give LMU its largest lead of the game at 16-9. After CUI got two back, Max Walsworth coverted at even strength with six minutes to play. The two sides traded off the final four goals, with Romero Corbalan scoring the pair for LMU.
 
Stelios Dalmaras made 10 saves in the cage for the Lions, while adding an assist and steal.
 
The Lions will move over to the La Mirada Splash for a pair of games on Saturday. LMU plays Fresno Pacific at 12:30 PM and then Biola at 4:00 PM.
 
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