IRVINE, Calif. – LMU Men's Water Polo opened a new chapter in the program as the Lions welcomed Head Coach David Carrasco with an opening day win. #16 LMU was close to earning a pair of wins after narrowly falling to #7 UC Irvine in the morning game of UCI's tournament, 15-14. The Lions responded with a 17-14 win over Cal State Fullerton in the second game of the day.
 
Game 1: #7 UC Irvine 15, #16 LMU 14
The Lions trailed 2-0 before Tommaso Baldineti scored the first goal of the season for the Lions. After UCI rebuilt their 2-goal advantage, Abel Romero Corbalan scored three unanswered goals in the span of two minutes and 17 seconds to give LMU the lead heading into the final two minutes of the first quarter. Nick Leung added a goal on the final possession of the half for the Lions, making it a 5-3 lead after one period.
 
After the Anteaters started the second period with a goal, Roman Saroyan and Alika Naone scored back-to-back goals to build a three-goal advantage. The two teams traded off scoring the next four goals as Bence Barics and Naone each helped build back LMU's three-goal lead. UC Irvine scored the final two goals of the half to pull back within one at intermission, 9-8.
 
Richie Rimlinger extended the lead to open the second half with a goal to push ahead 10-8. The home team tied the score at 10-all before Barics pushed LMU back on top with 3:48 to play in the third. UCI scored three of the quarters final four goals to take a 13-12 advantage into the fourth and final period. Naone's 5-meter penalty goal pushed the Lions ahead 12-11 before the 'Eaters scored the next two.
 
UCI took a two-goal advantage in the opening possession of the fourth quarter. The Lions responded with a penalty goal to pull within one. The defense held UC Irvine to their final goal of the game with 6:31 on the clock. LMU pulled within one as Nico Furneaux beat the goalkeeper with 5:18 remaining. Neither team would score again as the game clock expired with the score at 15-14.
Finn Friedland made 11 saves in the cage for the Lions.
 
Game 2: #16 LMU 17, Cal State Fullerton 14
 
Both teams came out firing, as a combined 10 goals were scored in the first quarter and neither team holding more than a one-goal lead. Tommaso Baldineti led the way with two first quarter goals, while Nico Furneaux, Alika Naone, and Bence Barics all scored once for LMU in the period.
 
A strong second quarter showing put the Lions in position with a lead that they would hold the rest of the way. Caden Carpenter scored in the first minute of the second period before the Titans tied the score for one final time at 6-all. Barics, then Baldineti, then Barics again, and followed by a goal by Abel Romero Corbalan gave the Lions a four-goal advantage as the trio scored four unanswered goals. CSUF added one in the closing seconds of the half to make it a 10-7 game at intermission.
 
Baldineti converted a powerplay to open the second half and return the lead to four. Cal State Fullerton responded with the next two goals to cut their deficit in half. Barics scored his fourth goal on just four shots to bring the Lion lead to 9-6 with 4:48 on the third quarter clock. The two teams traded off the final four goals of the quarter. Both times after the Titans pulled within two, Johnny Mendiburu then Baldineti increased the lead back to three.
 
The back-and-forth action continued into the fourth quarter as the two sides continued to score and respond. Roman Saroyan pushed LMU ahead 15-12 at the 6:24 mark and Balidenti scored his sixth of the game to push the lead to 16-13 with 1:26 to play. Furneuax scored the game's final goal with less than a minute to play to secure the three-goal victory.
 
In his first game in the cage as a Lion, Roberto Barrera Sanchez earned the win with 10 saves, an assist, and two steals.
 
Up Next: #16 LMU vs. #3 Stanford
The Lions are set to make their home debut on Saturday afternoon and hold #3 Stanford at Burns Aquatics Center. The game will begin at 1:00 PM and fans can enter for free or watch on ESPN+.
 
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