LOS ANGELES – #T-13 LMU women's water polo remained undefeated in the Golden Coast Conference with a 16-12 win over #T-23 Pacific on Friday night. The Lions led for most of the game, but did need to overcome a two-goal deficit in the third quarter to move to 2-0 in conference play.
 
Anna Tarantino scored two goals in the first two minutes of play to give LMU a 2-1 lead. Ruth Arino Ruiz doubled the lead to make it 3-1 in favor of the home team with 4:46 to play in the opening quarter. Pacific scored twice in the final 1:48 to even the score at 3-all after the first eight minutes of play.
 
The Tigers scored twice to open the second quarter and take a two-goal advantage. Tarantino scored her third of three goals to bring the Lions back within one with 5:35 to play play until halftime. After Pacific rebuilt their two-goal advantage, Skye Nankervis scored in her season debut after returning to the pool from injury. The last three minutes of the half saw extensive action as UOP scored their seventh goal and LMU responded with goals from Arino Ruiz and Mikayla Lopez to tie the score at 7-7 with 26 seconds showing on the clock. Pacific scored a go-ahead goal with one second remaining to take an 8-7 halftime lead.
 
After UOP started the third quarter with a goal, LMU five unanswered to switch the momentum of the game. Arino Ruiz scored four of those five goals in that run and Sophia DeMattia added the other to break the tie. The Tigers converted a powerplay goal with 1:48 showing in the period before Yanah Gerber put the Lions back ahead by three with a goal in the final minute of the third.
 
Gerber then started the fourth with a goal and Tarantino followed to give LMU it's largest lead at 15-10 with 5:10 remaining. Pacific scored a pair of goals before Gerber clinched the win with her third of the day.
 
Alyssa Barnuevo saved five shots and added an assist.

The Lions return to the pool at 6:00 PM on Saturday night to take on a different Tigers team, as Princeton comes across the country to Burns Aquatic Center. The game will air on ESPN+.
 
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