IRVINE, Calif. – #T-11 LMU women's water polo picked up another conference win on Friday morning, moving to 4-0 in the Golden Coast Conference. The Lions defeated Concordia, 18-7, after never trailing to the Golden Eagles.
 
Ruth Arino Ruiz opened the scoring with a penalty shot and Skye Nankervis added a goal on the LMU's next possession to push the Lions ahead 2-0 within the first two minutes of play. After CUI scored their lone goal of the second quarter to cut the deficit in half, Carolina Magano, Arino Ruiz, and Cianne Benjammin closed out the opening quarter with back-to-back-to-back goals giving LMU a 5-1 lead after one.
 
Yanah Gerber scored two of the first three goals of the second quarter to push the Lions ahead 7-2. Sophie Kadifa added a goal of her own with less than three minutes to play until halftime. After the Golden Eagles pulled back within five, Arino Ruiz completed her first half hat trick in the closing seconds to give LMU a 9-3 lead at intermission. Arino Ruiz recorded 10 points for the third time this season, adding three assists to her seven goals.
 
The home team scored first to start the second half before Arino Ruiz and Gerber responded with the next two less than a minute apart from each other. Arino Ruiz scored a total of four goals in the third quarter to bring her total to seven in the game. Nankervis also scored another before the period ended as the Lions led 15-6 heading into the final eight minutes of play.
 
Tessa Matson put the Lions up double-digits with her goal at the 3:18 mark of the fourth. After Concordia scored on their next possession, Katherine Wastila and Carla Rivera added goals in the final minute to give LMU the 11-goal win. Rivera's goal was LMU's seventh 6-on-5 goal in 11 chances.
 
Alyssa Barnuevo played the first half in the cage for LMU, making two saves with two assists and a steal in her 16 minutes of play. Talia Herbermann recorded a season-high seven saves over 16 second half minutes, and shared team-high honors with three steals.
 
The Lions continue conference play with a home game Saturday, March 29, against Santa Clara. The first spring is scheduled for 1:00 PM. Admission and parking will be free for the game.
 
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