The men’s water polo team played a fierce, physical game with Loyola Marymount University on Saturday, but an excellent defensive display was not enough to overcome offensive difficulties and the Tritons fell, 7-4.
“The last time we did beat [Loyola Marymount] we gave up seven goals but our offense was dysfunctional today,” head coach Denny Harper said. “I don’t really have any answers as to why we shot the ball so poorly. They’re a really good defensive team…but to be fair, we just did not shoot the ball well at all.”
The game got off to a competitive start, with an ejection for each team within the first minute of play. The Lions got the first six-on-five advantage and used those 20 seconds to score a goal on junior goalie David Morton in the upper right corner. The Tritons gained the advantage and an offensive turnover, but their shot went high and sailed over the cross bar.
LMU scored another goal, but the Tritons recovered and sophomore utility John Butler tossed in a clear shot past the goalie to bring the score to 2-1.
The second period started with another ejection in favor of UCSD, but the Tritons were unable to convert and a six-on-five in favor of LMU swiftly nullified the advantage. The Lions’ Albert Samuels sent in a shot that was tipped into the goal by Ikaika Aki to send the score to 3-1.
Butler made another attempt on goal, but was stopped by the Lions’ goalie Andy Stevens. LMU received yet another ejection, and this time UCSD took advantage of the six on five with a score by sophomore utility Brian Donohoe.
Another goal for LMU again put the Lions ahead by two goals, until UCSD freshman utility Josh Stiling found the net as the final seconds of the second quarter ticked off the clock.
With the score at 4-3, the Tritons came back fighting for the second half of the game and converted a six on five. Donohoe got a clean shot to the back of the net to tie up the score at four apiece. But another ejection gave LMU an advantage, and the Lions scored quickly to pull ahead again.
“They were getting cross passes from one side of the pool to the other and then shooting the ball, and so it’s really hard to get there in time and make it to the top to block the shot,” junior goalkeeper David Morton said. “They were really tough shots and they made some good shots.”
The fourth period opened with a 5-4 lead for LMU. The play was rough throughout the game, and LMU’s Albert Samuels got yellow carded and then rolled with almost 2 minutes left on the clock. Despite numerous attempts on goal — including a ball that floated right on the line but did not cross over — UCSD could not score again, and LMU put away two more goals to seal the win.
“It was a good, entertaining ball game — a hard-fought game,” Harper said. “It had a lot of edge and spice to it, and I won’t quite take my hat off to them, but I will tip my hat to them because they played well and they won.”
Despite the disappointment of losing, the team remained respectful to LMU for a solid game.
“We tried our best and I think we’ve got a lot to learn from this game,” senior defense Jakub Bednarek said. “The next time we play, we’re going to do a lot better. We’re going to keep working, and we’re going to come out and really play.”
Up next for the Tritons is an away match at No. 2 UCLA on Oct. 30. The Tritons will then return home to Canyonview Pool on Nov. 2 to face Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.
