RIVERSIDE, Calif. – #18 LMU men's water polo fell to #15 California Baptist in the WCC opener on Wednesday night, 13-8. The Lions scored eight goals from eight different players.
 
After CBU scored in the opening minute, LMU took a 2-1 lead on their following two possessions as Bence Barics and Abel Romero Corbalan scored within 34 seconds of each other. The Lancers then responded with the next three goals to push ahead, 4-2. Nick Leung pulled the Lions back within one with less than two minutes to play in the opening quarter before California Baptist added one more.
 
Roman Saroyan's goal in the first minute of the second period made it a one-goal game once again, CBU scored the next three to double up the Lions, 8-4. Richie Rimlinger added one back with 28 seconds remaining before halftime.
 
In the first two minutes of the second half, the Lancers sandwiched a pair of goals around Caden Carpenter's powerplay. Nobody else beat the goalkeepers in the third.
 
California Baptist pushed ahead by five early in the fourth quarter, before Baptiste Oliveri added his name to the scoring column. After CBU converted on a 6-on-5 play, goalkeeper Stelios Dalmaras scored for the Lions for the team's final goal. The Lancers added a penalty goal for their final score of the night.
 
Dalmaras made nine saves in just over 29 minutes in the cage. Finn Friedland closed out the final 2:58.
 
The Lions will remain on the road for conference play with a trip to #4 Pacific on Saturday.