LONG BEACH, Calif. – After trailing 5-0 to start the game, No. 12 LMU men's water polo climbed all the back against No. 8 Long Beach State before ultimately coming up short in overtime, 16-14.
After the home side opened with five unanswered goals over the first six minutes of the game,
Abel Romero Corbalan and
Tommaso Baldineti paired up cut into the deficit over the last two minutes of the first quarter to make it a 5-2 game after one.
On LMU's opening possession of the second period,
Jonny Rimlinger shrunk the deficit to just two after beating the LBSU goalkeeper. The Beach scored one back before Romero Corbalan and
Alex Marlow went back-to-back to make it a one-goal game with 4:50 to play until intermission. Long Beach State built their lead back up to three ahead of
Richie Rimlinger's goal to end the run. A penalty shot put the beach back up three with 1:35 on the clock, but the LMU pair of Baldineti and Romero Corbalan again provided answers to close out the half and bring the Lions within one at the break.
Max Walsworth tied the game at 9-9 with the opening goal of the second half. The Beach didn't keep the score tied for long, scoring the last two goals of the second half.
The Beach extended their lead back to three goals to open the final quarter of regulation, but the Lions would not go away.
Tyler Harvey scored to bring LMU within striking distance and
Jonny Rimlinger brought it back to even with consecutive goals. Long Beach State went back on top with 1:41 to play in the fourth before reigning WCC Player of the Week
Tommaso Baldineti scored the equalizer to tie the game and force overtime at 13-13.
Baldineti gave LMU their first lead of the night to open the first overtime period. A penalty shot by Long Beach State tied the game back up to close out the initial extra session.
Another penalty shot in the final overtime for LBSU proved to be the difference as the home side went ahead. The Beach added a goal on an open net as time nearly expired.
Stelios Dalmaras finished the game with 14 saves over 38 minutes in the cage.
The Lions will close out the regular season Sunday at home with a chance to share the West Coast Conference regular season title. LMU will face Pacific with a noon start. The five-member senior class will be recognized at the conclusion of the game. That group of seniors include
Rafael Salonikios,
Augie Renezeder,
Alex Marlow,
Max Walsworth, and
Tyler Harvey.
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