LA JOLLA, Calif. – LMU men's water polo outscored hosts UC San Diego after the first quarter of play, but that initial deficit was too large for the Lions. #14 UC San Diego took the match 12-9 after taking a 6-1 lead in the first quarter over the #15 Lions.
 
After UCSD took a 2-0 lead, Bence Barics cut the deficit in half at the 3:48 mark of the first. From that point, the Tritons closed out the opening period with four unanswered goals to take a 6-1 advantage.
 
The home team's lead grew to 7-1 before the Lions answered with four unanswered goals of their own. Abel Romero Corbalan started and ended the scoring run with Barics and Caden Poulleau each scoring during that stretch to make it a 7-5 game. The home team added a goal before halftime to bring the score to 8-5.
 
The Tritons started the scoring in the second half on their opening possession but could not find the back of the cage the rest of the period. Richie Rimlinger got a goal back for the Lions at the 2:52 mark for the only other goal of the third quarter.
 
UCSD rebuilt their four-goal advantage with just over five minutes to play in the game. Tommaso Baldineti and Patrick Powers scored back-to-back goals to bring the Lions within two with 2:40 to play. The Tritons lead grew back to four with two more goals. Nick Leung closed the game with a goal on LMU's final possession.
 
After Finn Freidland allowed eight first half goals, Stelios Dalmaras closed out the final 16 minutes with four goals allowed and eight saves.
 
The Lions will continue playing on the road with their next game at top-ranked UCLA on Saturday at noon.
 
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