ORANGE, Calif. - The 10th-ranked UC San Diego men's water polo team led late in the third quarter but could not hold on as No. 8 Loyola Marymount won a 5-4 decision and earned the Western Water Polo Association's automatic berth to the NCAA Final Four in Princeton. Sean Cruz's goal with 2:41 left in the third put UCSD up 4-3. The Lions would tie it just before the end of the third and LMU scored the game-winner at the 4:01 mark. The Tritons had four shots on goal in the fourth, but could not convert. "This was one of the best defensive efforts we've had in a long time against a really high-powered offense, said head coach Denny Harper. "Overall, it was a very emotional game-a championship effort by our guys and I feel like we left our guts out there."
The loss was UCSD's fifth to LMU this season, with two of those match-ups coming by a one goal margin. UCSD's season comes to a close with a record of 14-14.
"We talked from the very beginning of the year about building throughout the season and I think we did that-we just came up a tad short, said Harper."
Cruz finished the day with two goals while Steven Donohoe and Peter Gresham also scored for the Tritons. David Morton played well in goal with nine saves.
In the first quarter, the Tritons shutout the Lions and led 1-0 as Gresham scored the only goal of the frame.
In the second quarter, LMU got on the board with a goal at the 6:58 mark. The Tritons regained the lead on Donohoe's goal with 6:14 left in the half. LMU tied the game at 2-2 with 3:14 left and that score would stand until halftime.
Cruz's goal to open the scoring in the second half put UCSD up 3-2. LMU would retie it at 3-3 with 4:15 left. Cruz would strike again at the 2:41 mark, giving UCSD the lead, its final lead of the afternoon. LMU tied it up with :26 left as the teams went to the fourth tied at 4-4.
In the fourth, LMU scored at the 4:01 mark which proved to be the game-winner.
For the Lions, WWPA Player of the Year Andy Stevens made 14 saves. Brian Benedetti scored twice while Tibor Forai, Andrew Aki and Max Schlegel scored.
UCSD's Donohoe and Sean Roberts earned WWPA All-Tournament team honors. Also making the All-Tournament team was Tournament MVP Stevens (LMU), Aki (LMU), Edgaras Asajavicius (LMU), Jack Wall (Santa Clara) and Jim Breen (UC Davis).
Earlier in the day, Santa Clara defeated Whittier 17-9 in the third-place game while UC Davis beat Air Force 10-8 in the fifth-place game. In the seventh-place game, Redlands defeated tournament host Chapman 12-9.
