LOS ANGELES – #14 LMU women's water polo played another close game on Saturday afternoon. The Lions fell in overtime for the third time this season, dropping their home opener 13-12 to #11 UC San Diego in six periods.
 
After falling behind in the first minute, LMU rattled off the final four goals of the fourth quarter to push ahead after eight minutes of play. Ruth Arino Ruiz tied the game at 1-1, then Carolina Magano provided the go-ahead goal. Arino Ruiz scored two more times in the opening period for a 4-1 lead.
 
Mikayla Lopez converted on a powerplay to give the Lions a 5-1 lead before the Tritons answered with the next two goals. Magano scored with 2:18 remaining in the first half to give LMU a 6-3 advantage at intermission.
 
The two sides traded off goals in the third quarter. After UCSD opened the new half with a goal less than a minute into play, Anna Tarantino gave the three-goal lead back to the Lions at the 5:40 mark. Just before the midway point of the third, the Tritons again pulled within two before Magano's answer made it an 8-5 game after three periods.
 
UC San Diego scored the first two of the fourth quarter to pull within one score of the Lions. Magano doubled LMU's lead with a goal with 4:55 to play. The Tritons scored the next two goals to even the game for the first time since 1-1. With less than two minutes to play in regulation, Noa Sasover converted on the 6-on-5 advantage to push LMU back on top, 10-9. Following a timeout, UCSD scored an equalizer with 18 seconds remaining to force overtime.
 
After neither team scored in the fifth period, Arino Ruiz scored her fourth goal of the day to begin the sixth period. The Tritons tie the game at 11-all on their next possession. With the Lions at even streghted, Magano scored her fifth goal to go along with two assists to give LMU another lead with 1:17 showing on the clock. UC San Diego scored twice in the final minute, once at the 44 second mark and once again at the 14 second mark to complete their comeback.
 
Alyssa Barnuevo played all 38 minutes in the cage for the Lions and made a game-high nine saves.
 
The Lions remain at home this weekend with another non-conference home contest on Sunday morning against Toronto.
 
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