LOS ANGELES – LMU men's water polo played a tremendous first 20 minutes, but it was the final 12 that flipped the script on the game. The #15 Lions led 9-3 before #8 UC Irvine closed the game on a 9-2 run to take the first game of the WCC-Big West Challenge, 12-11.
 
Caden Carpenter started the scoring less than 30 seconds into the game. After UCI tied the score at 1-all, Abel Romero Corbalan converted a penalty shot to put the Lions back on top. The Anteaters tied the score once again before Romero Corbalan scored at even strength with 47 ticks remaining in the opening quarter.
 
The second quarter started with Tommaso Baldineti scoring on a penalty of his own in the first minute of the period. The Lions would score the first four goals of the period as Richie Rimlinger scored twice and Baldineti added another to bring the score to 7-2 with 1:16 on the clock. UC Irvine added a goal in the final minute before halftime to make it a 7-3 game.
 
Baldineti again opened the scoring in the third quarter and freshman Josiah Yeager scored at the 4:35 mark to give LMU a 9-3 advantage. UCI closed out the quarter with the next three goals to cut their six-goal deficit in half.
 
For the third-consecutive period, Baldineti scored first to push the Lions to double-digits. The Anteaters responded with the next four five goals to take an 11-10 lead with 43 seconds remaining in the game. On LMU's final possession, Carpenter scored the equalizer with 17 seconds left to level the score at 11-11. As time expired, UCI took advantage of the man advantage with the game-winning goal to take the match, 12-11.
 
Finn Fredland made seven saves in his 32 minutes in the cage.

The Lions will be back in the pool twice on Saturday. Games will begin with LMU taking on Pacific at 9:00 AM and then the Lions will return to the tournament with a game against UC Santa Barbara at 3:00 PM.
 
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