FRESNO, Calif. – Fresno Pacific couldn't hold off #20 Loyola Marymount on Saturday, as the Sunbirds narrowly fell 12-9 in Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) play. The Sunbirds held a lead at halftime before the Lions avoided a season sweep with a strong second half.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: #20 Loyola Marymount 12, FPU 9
Box Score
Records: FPU (1-5, 0-2 WWPA), LMU (3-4, 1-0 WWPA)
Location:  Fresno, Calif. | Clovis East High School
Series: The Sunbirds trail 5-2 against the Lions
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QUOTABLE
• "The men played a great game today. We came out focused and executed our game plan, and did exactly what we set out to do until the fourth quarter. We let the mental side get to us and we slipped away from what was working, giving LMU the leverage they needed. Up until that point I was proud of the way we played. We just need to clean up the fourth quarter and a lot of good things can happen for us."– head coach Bryan Suhovy
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• LMU jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but FPU responded with three straight goals to take its first lead of the game. The Sunbirds would go on to lead 5-4 at halftime.  
• The Lions managed eight second-half goals, five of which came in the final period, to then hold off the Sunbirds.
 
STATS OF THE GAME:
• Garrett Pickford and Floyd Siebenaler led the Sunbirds with a hat trick apiece. Pickford added three assists as well.
• Kyle Eoff scored twice for FPU, while Lazar Raca rounded out the scoring with one goal.
• Joseph Costa led the 'Birds with 11 saves and a steal in the cage.
• The Sunbirds held the Lions to a 1-for-11 clip on power plays.
• Matt Braun led Loyola Marymount with a game-high four goals.
 
BEYOND THE BOX:
• FPU had beaten the Lions in two of the last three meetings before Saturday's game. The Sunbirds took down LMU when they were ranked #17 on Sept. 2 at the Triton Invite.
• Pickford had also scored three times in the previous meeting with the Lions. It was his second hat trick of the season.
• Siebenaler's three goals were a career best, while Costa's 11 blocks were also a career high.
 
UP NEXT:
• The Sunbirds now travel to California Baptist on Thursday, Sept. 28 for a WWPA matchup. The game is slated for a 7 p.m. start.