LA JOLLA, Calif. - Loyola Marymount scored with 1:18 left in the second sudden-death period, fourth overtime, as the 13th-ranked UC San Diego men's water polo team fell to the Lions, 13-12, in a non-conference matchup at Canyonview Aquatic Center Wednesday.
The Tritons are now 6-6 in the 2015 campaign. LMU improves its record to 3-5. The annual contest between fierce Western Water Polo Association archrivals was again played in front of a raucous and capacity crowd of 1,712 on the eve of the start of fall quarter on the UCSD campus.
The Lions scored in the first 16 seconds of the game as Jon Beck rifled one home. UCSD answered back with a goal from Cole Martinez, and Nick Alexander fired one in with three seconds left in the opening period as the Tritons led by one after the first quarter.
LMU was able to outscore UCSD 3-1 in the second frame to take a one-point lead going into halftime. The Triton score came from Jack Ellinthorpe.
UCSD exploded in the third quarter with five goals, one from Martinez and two each from Alexander and Ellinthorpe, and limited the Lions to just one for a three-point cushion.
LMU's Dayne Jagga took over in the final period of regulation as he scored three goals in the first three minutes to tie the game. Beck would find the back of the cage with 2:59 left to give the Lions the lead. With 24 seconds left in regulation, senior Chase Cockerill was able to score a goal to level matters and take the match into overtime.
LMU got out to a fast start in the first extra period, scoring three unanswered goals. Tyler Mancuso was able to get a big score with 12 seconds left in the first overtime period as the Tritons trailed by two.
UCSD's defense was able to shut out the Lions and Alexander scored twice to tie the game once again in the second extra period and force a sudden death. The junior first converted a penalty shot with 1:59 left. Within 38 seconds, redshirt freshman goalie Jack Turner saved Jagga's penalty on the other end, and Alexander hit the target once more, for a 12-12 deadlock and more free water polo.
After nobody could score in the first sudden death period, Matt Cuozzo found the back of the cage to end the game and give LMU the one-goal victory.
Alexander led the Tritons with a game-high five goals. Ellinthorpe added three and Martinez had two. Turner recorded 13 saves.
For the Lions, Jagga scored four times. Beck, Vuk Cvetkovic and Emanuel Di Stasio added two each and Dominick Beaudine amassed 11 saves.
UCSD will have one week off before heading to Orange County to take on UC Irvine on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m.
Box Score
UCSD 2 1 5 1 1 2 0 0 12
LMU 1 3 1 4 3 0 0 1 13
Goals
UCSD: Nick Alexander 5, Jack Ellinthorpe 3, Cole Martinez 2, Chase Cockerill 1, Tyler Mancuso 1
LMU: Dayne Jagga 4, Jon Beck 2, Vuk Cvetkovic 2, Emanuel Di Stasio 2, Cory McGee 1, Milutin Mitrovic 1, Matt Cuozzo 1
Saves
UCSD: Jack Turner 13
LMU: Dominick Beaudine 11
#TritonsRising
