Sept. 7, 2003

San Diego, CA (Aug. 6) -- The Loyola Marymount University men's water polo team started the 2003 season by splitting its first pair of games at the UC San Diego Triton Men's Water Polo Invitational on Saturday by defeating Whittier 14-5 and then dropping a heartbreaker to UC Santa Barbara 8-7.

The Lions began the day by playing in the first game of the tournament, jumping out to a big lead on fellow Western Water Polo Association member Whittier. LMU took a 6-1 lead after the first seven minutes and then extended it to 8-1 at the half.

Six players scored for the Lions in the opener including senior Tamas Szego's four goals, senior Kris Barr and junior Sean Wimer each added hat-tricks.

The Lions were hoping to move into the undefeated side of the bracket with a showdown against top-20 ranked UC Santa Barbara. The game proved to be the closest of the tournament.

LMU jumped to a 2-1 lead on the Gauchos after the first period thanks to goals by Barr and sophomore Endre Rex-Kiss. UCSB answered with two goals in the second period while blanking the Lions to take a 3-2 lead at the half.

The Gauchos extended the lead to two goals by outscoring the Lions 3-2 in the third period to take a 6-4 lead. LMU would not go away as they outscored the Gauchos in the final period 3-2 to close the gap. However, the Gauchos held on a last rally by the Lions. Rex-Kiss finished with four goals in the game with Barr adding two more.

Rex-Kiss and Barr each finished the first day with five goals while Szego had four.

The Lions will play Air Force at 9:15 a.m. and then play Redlands at 4:45 p.m. Both teams are in the WWPA.

Saturday's Pool Play Results

GAME 1	1	2	3	4	OT	OT	TOT
LOYOLA MARYMOUNT (1-0)	6	2	4	2	-	-	14
WHITTIER (0-1)	1	0	1	3	-	-	5

LMU GOALS:  Tamas Szego-4, Kris Barr-3, Sean Wimer-3, Scott Smith-2, Nick Oster, Endre Rex-Kiss.
WHIT GOALS:  Mark Canner, Damon Kern, Robert Curreri, Tyler Middleton, Cody Pletcher.

GAME 7	1	2	3	4	OT	OT	TOT
LOYOLA MARYMOUNT (1-1)	2	0	2	3	-	-	7
UC SANTA BARBARA (2-0)	1	2	3	2	-	-	8

LMU GOALS:  Endre Rex-Kiss-4, Kris Barr-2, Scott Smith.
UCSB GOALS:  Brian Alexander-3, Matt Tilborg-2, Steve Traverso-2, Andrew Schoneberger.

Saturday Results (Day One)
Pool Play:
Loyola Marymount 14, Whittier 5
UC San Diego 25, Pomona-Pitzer 2
UC Irvine 13, La Verne 1
UC Santa Barbara 21, Whittier 4
Redlands 16, Pomona-Pitzer 3
Air Force 14, La Verne 3
UC Santa Barbara 8, Loyola Marymount 7
UC San Diego 16, Redlands 3
UC Irvine 7, Air Force 5

Sunday Schedule
8:00 AM	La Verne vs. Whittier
9:15 AM	Air Force vs. Loyola Marymount
10:30 AM	UC Irvine vs. UC Santa Barbara
11:45 AM	La Verne vs. Pomona-Pitzer
1:00 PM	Air Force vs. Redlands
2:15 PM	UC Irvine vs. UC San Diego
3:30 PM	Pomona-Pitzer vs. Whittier
4:45 PM	Redlands vs. Loyola Marymount
6:00 PM	UC San Diego vs. UC Santa Barbara