Oct. 2, 2004

Los Angeles, CA (Oct. 2) -- Sophomore Ben Easton scored with 55 second remaining in regulation to lift the Loyola Marymount University men's water polo team to a 6-5 win over Pepperdine in the Northern California Men's Water Polo Tournament at the University of the Pacific on Saturday morning.

The seventh-ranked Lions improve to a program best 9-2 record on the season, the best start in school history for the team. It is also the first time the Lions have won back-to-back games against the 9th ranked Waves as they defeated their rivals 12-9 a week ago at LMU. Pepperdine falls to 4-5.

Like they did a week ago, the Lions jumped out to a multi-goal lead. LMu struck first with an extra-man goal by Endre Rex-Kiss and then stretched the lead to 3-1 at the half on goals by Brian McShane and Nick Oster.

After a Pepperdine goal to start the thrid quarter, the Lions earned back-to-back goals to go up 5-2 early in the fourth quarter on goals by Matt Reynolds and Scott Marshall. However, in a repeat of last week's game, Pepperdine fought back and tied the contest at 5-5 on a goal by Grant Miller with 1:26 remaining.

Easton would then get a pass from Sean Wimer to score the game winner on a man-advantage. The Lions used the extra-man attack to their advantage, scoring five of their six goals on the extra attack.

LMU will take on third-ranked Cal at 6:20 p.m. as the NorCal Tournament continues.

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