LOS ANGELES – The #17 Pacific men's water polo team put on a strong first-period display, but ultimately dropped the regular season finale to #12 Loyola Marymount, 21-13, Sunday at Burns Aquatic Center.
In their final tune-up before the inaugural West Coast Conference tournament next week, the Tigers fall to 1-5 in conference play and 12-13 overall on the year. The Lions improve to 5-1 in conference play and 17-7 overall this year.
Graduate student
Stefan Vavic was the catalyst for the Tigers' offense, finishing the day two points shy of tying his season-high in points with four goals and three assists. Vavic collected his fourth straight multi-goal performance and ninth hat trick of the season.
Freshman
Spencer Burdack matched his season-high with five points – three of them accumulating in the form of goals for his fourth hat trick of the campaign. Junior
Gil Gvishi and fifth-year senior
Rene Peralta racked up three and five points respectively, extending their season-long point streaks.
Freshman goalkeeper
Benjamin Gronbach drew the starting assignment, making four saves in the first half of the match. Senior
Lewis Gale entered right before the end of the second half, stopping two shots from the Lions.
Pacific roared out of the gates, capitalizing on a six spot in the first frame, which featured four straight goals from the opening sprint. Burdack tallied two goals, including a 6-on-5 marker midway through the first period. The Tigers eventually doubled up the Lions, 6-3, after eight minutes.
The Lions responded with a flurry of attacks in the second period, but the Tigers held onto an 11-10 lead at halftime. Vavic completed his hat trick in the second period on a nifty backward shot from the middle.
The Lions continued to pile on pressure with the rowdiness from the crowd on their Senior Day, outscoring the Tigers 4-1 in the third frame and holding onto a 14-12 advantage.
Pacific attempted to mount a comeback in the fourth period, but the home team halted the Tigers' push, resulting in a 21-13 victory for the Lions.
The Tigers return to action in the WCC Tournament, beginning Friday, Nov. 17, at Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool in Malibu, Calif.
