La Jolla, Calif. – The #6 LMU Women's Water Polo team took a 2-0 lead late in the first quarter of the NCAA Quarterfinal round matchup against #2 USC before the Trojans came back to eliminate the Lions with a 10-5 win.
 
LMU's defensive possessions opened with back-to-back field blocks and a steal on USC's offensive attack. That set the tone early as LMU's defensive stronghold held until Anna Tarantino opened the scoring with a penalty goal at 2:26 in the first to put the Lions ahead, 1-0. Tarantino added a second goal to double the lead to 2-0 less than a minute later. The Trojans remained scoreless until 29.3 on the first quarter clock and a counter on a breakaway before the period expired to even the score.
 
USC took their first lead with an even-strength goal at 5:59 in the second quarter and followed with a penalty goal less than a minute later. The Trojans made it a 5-2 game before Sophia DeMattia scored with her left to pull the Lions back within two on the ensuing possession. The Trojans scored with 14 ticks remaining before halftime to lead 6-3 at intermission.
 
The three-seeded Women of Troy scored the first three goals of the second quarter before Tarantino completed her hat trick in the final minute of the quarter.
 
The two sides played an even fourth quarter as Tarantino scored her game-high fourth goal.
 
Madison Searle made four saves in the cage for the Lions.
 
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