MALIBU, Calif. – The LMU men's water polo team played on the road for the first time this season. The #15 Lions fell to #4 Pepperdine in a non-conference game, 15-12.
 
Pepperdine jumped in front early, scoring the game's first three goals within five and a half minutes of play. Tommaso Baldineti converted a penalty shot to put the Lions on the scoreboard with 2:11 on the clock. After the Waves converted on the powerplay, Caden Carpenter closed the quarter with an even-strength goal to bring the score to 4-2.
 
It took less than two minutes into the second quarter for Baldineti and Carpenter to tie the score at 4-all with quick goals. Pepperdine responded with the next three goals to build back their advantage. Richie Rimlkinger scored with 30 seconds remaining in the half to make it a 7-5 game at intermission.
 
Goals on three straight possessions after the midway point put Pepperdine ahead 9-6. Abel Romero Corbalan scored in between a pair of Waves. A powerplay goal by the home team gave Pepperdine a 10-6 lead with under two to play in the third. Baldineti converted a penalty shot with 1:13 remaining in the quarter to bring the Lions back within three.
 
Pepperdine scored three of the first four goals of the final period to build up their largest lead of the game, with Baldineti's fourth goal of the breaking up the stretch and his fifth goal putting an end to the run. The Lions showed no quit, scoring three consecutive goals over a 1:07 of play to pull within two with a minute remaining. Baptiste Oliveri and Jaxon Hoover started the comeback bid, with Baldineti beating the goalkeeper with his sixth of the day. A late Pepperdine goal in the closing minute brought the game final at 15-12.
 
The Lions will be home for three games over the course of Friday and Saturday
 
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