CLAREMONT, Calif. – #12 LMU water polo won their final two games of the weekend at Convergence to finish the event with a 3-1 record on the weekend. On Saturday, the Lions defeated Mount Saint Mary's 17-8 in the morning game and then beat Long Island 18-14 in the final game.
 
GAME 1: #12 LMU 17, Mount St. Mary's 8
 
The first four goals of the day went to LMU as Yanah Gerber scored a pair and Kawehi Kauahi and Sophia DeMattia added one apiece to put thte Lions ahead 4-0 less than three and a half minutes into the game. After Mount Saint Mary's cut their deficit in half, Kauahi gave LMU their three-goal cushion back. The Mount scored one back with 47 seconds remaining in the quarter and LMU's Carolina Magano scored one more with 26 seconds showing on the clock.
 
Kauahi, Sophie Kadifa, and DeMattia extended the lead to 9-3 within the first two and a half minutes of the second period. After Mount Saint Mary's scored their first of the quarter, Ruth Arino Ruiz scored twice, and Cianne Benjamin added one to build an eight-goal advantage. The Mount converted a penalty shot goal with 12 seconds left to bring the score to 12-5 at the break.
 
Taylor Enright opened the second half with a goal. Mount Saint Mary's responded a minute later taking a goal back. DeMattia and Mikayla Lopez scored the final two goals of the half to give LMU their largest lead of the game at 15-6.
 
The two teams traded off scoring goals in the fourth quarter. The Mount scored first, followed by a goal from Dunara Senadheera. After Mount Saint Mary's scored their second penalty goal of the day, London Boyd closed out the action with a goal in the final 28 seconds to give the Lions a nine-goal win.
 
Alyssa Barnuevo made five saves with a steal to earn the win.
 
GAME 2: #12 LMU 18, Long Island 14
 
After falling behind early in the game, the Lions scored three goals in a row to take a lead in the opening quarter. Ruth Arino Ruiz tied the game, and Carolina Magano gave LMU their first lead before Arino Ruiz scored again to go ahead 3-1. The Sharks cut their deficit in half before Cianne Benjamin doubled it again to take a 4-2 lead after one period.
 
Yanah Gerber opened the scoring on LMU's first possession of the second quarter. Following a goal by Long Island, Magano scored back-to-back goals less than a minute apart. The two teams traded off the final seven goals of the half with Anna Tarantino, Arino Ruiz, and Gerber scoring to make it a 10-7 game at the break.
After seeing the lead cut to 10-8 in the opening minute of the second half, Arino Ruiz scored two in a row and Tarantino added another to bring the score to 13-8 with 5:12 to play in third. Long Island would score three of the next four, with only one of Arino Ruiz's seven goals breaking up the run. The period ended with a powerplay goal by Magano with 48 seconds showing on the clock.
 
Arino Ruiz scored number seven to start the fourth quarter. Goals by Gerber and Magano, their third and fifth of the game, respectively, pushed the lead to 18-11. Long Island scored the game's final there goals over the last 3:38 to close the gap to 18-14.
 
Alyssa Barnuevo made nine saves and added two assists.
 
UP NEXT:
 
The Lions are home for three games next weekend. The games will begin with a conference matchup against Pacific on Friday at 6:00 PM, followed by a Saturday night game against Princeton, and concluding with a 1:00 start on Sunday against Cal.
 
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