LOS ANGELES, Calif. ? For the third time this season, the 5th-ranked UC San Diego men's water polo team defeated Western Water Polo Association rival and 7th-ranked Loyola Marymount. This game was similar to the others as the Tritons escaped Burns Recreation and Aquatics Center with a 9-8 victory. The previous two meetings in September resulted in Triton wins by scores of 9-8 and 8-7. A.J. Kotanjian led the Tritons with three scores, while Steven Donohoe and Jesse Casellini also scored twice. Nestor Dordoni and Daniel Garcia also scored for UCSD. The Tritons improve to 18-4 on the season.
The win was similar to the Tritons' 8-7 win at Canyonview on September 22. In that game, UCSD took an 8-5 lead in the fourth quarter and held on, making a defensive stop on LMU's final possession to secure the win.
In this rematch, UCSD again took a 9-6 lead in the fourth on Garcia's goal with 6:22 remaining. LMU stormed right back with goals at the 3:25 mark and another at 1:49 to come within 9-8. The Tritons then used strong defense to capture the win.
Kotanjian scored UCSD's first two goals in the first period, before LMU responded with two scores to tie the game at 2-2 after one.
In the second, Kotanjian netted his third goal before LMU scored the next two to take a 4-3 lead with 1:22 remaining in the half. Donohoe then tied the game for UCSD at the break 4-4.
LMU scored the first goal of the third, before Donohoe and Casellini scored to put the Tritons ahead at 6-5 and again at 7-6 just before the end of the period.
Dordoni and Garcia scored the goals in the 4th for UCSD to put the Tritons ahead 9-6.
UCSD is back in action with another WWPA opponent in Pomona Pitzer. The teams will square off on Saturday, October 21 at Noon in Canyonview Pool.
