Feb. 11, 2007

La Jolla, CA (Feb. 11) - The Loyola Marymount University women's water polo team made a huge early season statement on Sunday, defeating No. 7 UC Irvine in overtime, 8-7, and then No. 6 San Diego State, 8-6, to win the 2007 UC San Diego Triton Invitation at Canyonview Pool in La Jolla, Calif., on Sunday afternoon. The Lions sweep all four games in the tournament and improve to 5-1 on the season.

Senior Sarah Hamilton scored with 1:28 remaining in the second overtime period to lift the Lions to the semifinal win over the Anteaters, putting them into the title game against San Diego State, who defeated UC Davis 8-5 in the other semifinal.

In the championship against the Aztecs, senior Cara Colton exploded for four goals, including a pair in the third quarter to lift the Lions to their third straight Triton Invitational tournament title, winning it in 2005 and 2006.

In the title game, the lead went back-and-forth in the first half as the teams enter halftime tied at 4-4. Colton and the Lions took over from there as they scored three unanswered to pull away from the Aztecs. Colton started the scoring at the 6:12 mark to make it 5-4 and then scored again on a 6-on-5 to make it 6-4 with 4:10 remaining. Daisy Fish then scored with 3:31 on the clock to make it 7-4.

San Diego State cut the lead to a pair with 32 seconds left in the quarter but senior Stacia Peterson scored her second goal of the day with 5:19 remaining in the final frame to put the game out of reach.

The Lions were able to advance to the title game thanks to three goals by Peterson, a pair from Hamilton and another two from Nicole Hughes. Senior Katie Hicks also scored. The lead changed hands five times and was tied seven times as the teams traded goal throughout.

Nikki Frish scored for San Diego State with 2:53 remaining in regulation to send the game to the two overtime periods. The Aztecs scored first with 1:54 remaining to take a 6-5 leads. However, Peterson answered on the next possession to make it 6-6.

Hughes scored less than 40 seconds later to give LMU a 7-6 lead. IN the second overtime frame, San Diego State would tie it with 1:34 remaining. The Lions would then draw a kickout and Hamilton would put it in for the winner.

Next up for the Lions is a home date with Michigan on Feb. 22 at 3:00 p.m.