SANTA CLARA, Calif. – #10 LMU men's water polo evened their record in West Coast Conference play after defeating #17 Santa Clara, 13-10, on Friday afternoon.
 
The Lions jumped ahead to a 3-0 lead as the team's three leading scorers all found the back of the cage. Abel Romero Corbalan, Alika Naone, and Tommaso Baldineti gave LMU the first three goals before Santa Clara ended the period with a penalty goal.
 
The lead grew to 5-1 as Naone and Soren Martin opened the second quarter with a pair of goals. After the Broncos got one back, Bence Barics made it a 6-2 lead with 2:31 remaining in the half. Santa Clara scored on the ensuing possession before Barics converted with three ticks left to give the Lions a 7-3 lead at intermission.
 
Baldineti put the Lions up five to open the second half before Santa Clara rattled off three consecutive goals to close the quarter and pull within two, 8-6.
 
The Lions earned a penalty within 30 seconds of the fourth quarter starting, giving Baldineti another goal. Naone followed with his third just 20 seconds later to double the lead from two to four within the first minute of play in the final period. After the Broncos scored on their end of the pool, Romero Corbalan and Naone went back-to-back to push the lead to 12-7. Santa Clara scored the next three before Baldineti's fourth of the afternoon secured the win.
 
Finn Friedland made 11 saves for a .524 save percentage and added two assists and a steal in the win.
 
The Lions will play in San Jose on Saturday and Sunday to conclude the non-conference portion of the Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament.
 
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