LOS ANGELES – LMU women’s water polo returns to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012 thanks to a GCC Tournament Title Championship on Sunday. The #9 Lions came out fast, like they did all weekend, and defeated #8 Fresno State, 14-12.
The Lions scored the game’s first three goals with Sophia DeMattia, Anna Tarantino, and Yanah Gerber giving LMU a 3-0 lead. After FSU got one on the board, Ruth Arino Ruiz added her first of the game to push the lead to 4-1. The Bulldogs added one more to bring the score to 4-2.
After Fresno State tied the score with back-to-back goals to open the second, Skye Nankervis scored back-to-back goals of her own to give the lead back to LMU. The Lions scored the final five goals of the half as Arino Ruiz, Tarantino, and Kawehi Kauahi made it a 9-4 game at intermission.
Tournament MVP Arino Ruiz made it a 10-4 game early in the second half before the Bulldogs rattled off four unanswered goals to pull within two. Tarantino and Carolina Magano put an end to the run with a pair of goals. Fresno State added one more before the period ended to bring the score to 12-9 entering the final eight minutes.
Fresno State scored twice to pull within one to enter the fourth with just over four minutes to play. Yanah Gerber, on her way to an All-Tournament Team performance put an end to the run and gave the Lions a two-goal lead with 3:49 to play. One more FSU goal brought the Bulldogs within a goal with 2:53 on the clock. Magano’s goal with just under a minute to play was the insurance LMU needed as the Lions turned a two-goal cushion into victory.
Alyssa Barnuevo made save after save and finished with 10 saves in her All-Tournament Team performance.
The Lions will await the NCAA Selection Show which will determine the bracket for the NCAA Championships. The Selection Show will air on NCAA.com at 5:00 PM on Monday.
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