LOS ANGELES – For the first time in program history, LMU women's water polo has completed an undefeated Golden Coast Conference season for the first time in program history with a wire-to-wire win on Saturday. The Lions moved to 25-2 and 7-0 in the GCC with a 15-5 win over Azusa Pacific on Saturday afternoon in the final game of the regular season. 
 
The Lions scored both goals in the first quarter and Anna Tarantino scored both at even strength and on the powerplay in the opening period.
 
Ruth Arino Ruiz grew the lead to 3-0 before the Cougars scored their first goal of the game. The Lions then rattled off the next four goals by four different players to grow the lead to 7-1. Yanah Gerber, Tarantino, Skye Nankervis, and Sophie Kadifa scored during that run. APU added a pair of goals before halftime to make it a 7-3 score at intermission.
 
Noa Sasover opened the third quarter with a penalty shot goal and Arino Ruiz, Mikayla Lopez, and Gerber followed to push the lead to 11-3. The Lions took a 12-4 lead after Nankervis scored again and Sophia DeMattia added her first goal. LMU led by eight, 13-5, after three periods of play.
 
LMU scored both goals of the fourth quarter as Lior Ben David and Nankervis each took advantage of a powerplay.
 
A pair of seniors split time in the cage. Inbar Geva made five saves in the first 16 minutes in the cage and added a steal and assist. Madison Davis recorded six saves on eight shot attempts to close out the final two periods in front of the home crowd.
 
With the win, LMU clinches the top seed in the GCC Tournament and will look for the program's first tournament title since 2014 and 2015. The Lions will face eight-seeded Concordia in the opening round of the tournament, hosted by Santa Clara University.
 
Tickets are on sale now for the 2024 Golden Coast Conference Championship. Santa Clara will host the three-day tournament April 26-28 at the Sullivan Aquatic Center. Brackets and seedings for the 2024 GCC Championship will be announced Saturday night. 

The tournament runs from Friday, April 26 through Sunday, April 28. General admission tickets are $15 for each day of action and will be treated as day passes. No all-session tickets will be available. Click here to secure yours today. For further information, contact the Santa Clara Athletics Ticket Office via email at broncotickets@scu.edu. 

For more information about the 2024 GCC Championship, check out tournament central. Seedings will be announced in the event of Saturday, Apr. 20 following the conclusion of all regular-season games.
 
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