LOS ANGELES – For the first time since 2019, LMU men's water polo has defeated UC Irvine, snapping a four-game losing streak. This is the first top-10 win for Head Coach David Carrasco in his young career as the #13 Lions topped the #8 Anteaters, 14-11.
 
A penalty shot goal by Caden Carpenter opened the scoring for the Lions. After UC Irvine answered with the next two goals, Abel Romero Corbalan scored a powerplay goal to tie the score heading into the midway point of the first quarter. Romero Corbalan added a second in the final two minutes of the period and Nico Furneaux doubled the lead with five seconds left on the clock to push LMU ahead 4-2.
 
The two teams traded off scoring the first four goals of the second quarter. The Anteaters pulled within one in the opening minute before Tomasso Baldineti answered with his first of five goals. After UCI pulled back within one, Alika Naone scored at even strength to push the lead up to 6-4. UC Irvine scored twice over the last 1:37, including an equalizer as time expired, to tie the game at 6-all entering halftime.
 
Naone and Baldineti scored the first two of the second half to give the Lions their two-goal lead back. After UCI cut their deficit in half, Baldineti added another to make it a 9-7 game. The Anteaters responded with the next two goals to tie the game at 9-apiece. Baldineti scored his third of the period with less than a minute on the third quarter clock to give LMU the lead entering the final period.
 
LMU built their largest lead of the game with back-to-back goals from Romero Corbalan and Naone over the first half of the fourth. UCI scored one back with 2:18 on the clock before Roman Saroyan gave the Lions another three-goal cushion. After the 'Eaters added one more, the reigning West Coast Conference Player of the Week, Baldineti scored his fifth of the game to secure victory with a goal in the final 24 seconds.
 
Roberto Barrera Sanchez has recorded double-digit saves in all three of his starts this season, adding 11 saves in the win on Friday. The LMU goalkeeper is coming off his first West Coast Conference Newcomer of the Week Award.
 
The two teams met in Irvine on opening day, with the 'Eaters taking the first matchup by a goal, 15-14.
 
With the result, LMU will advance to the winner's bracket of the MPSF Invite. The Lions will play fellow opening day winners the rest of the way, beginning with #3 Cal on Saturday at 12:30 PM from UCLA's Spieker Aquatics Center. LMU will play twice on Saturday, with the second game time dependent on the result.
 
Donate Today:
Fans interested in making a contribution to the Lions Athletic Fund can do so by clicking here. Your gift will help provide a transformational student-athlete experience athletically, academically, and culturally for every LMU student-athlete. We appreciate your continued support of LMU Athletics. 
 
Follow Along With The Action:
For complete coverage of Loyola Marymount University athletics, visit LMULions.com. We encourage you to follow along with all the action on social media as well. Follow along by following us on Twitter, liking us on Facebook, and following us on Instagram.