LA JOLLA, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific men's water polo team upset #17 Loyola Marymount, 9-8, on the opening day of the 2017 season on Saturday. FPU, competing at the Triton Invite hosted by UC San Diego, also fell to #13 UC Irvine on the day to finish 1-1.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final Game One: #13 UC Irvine 20, FPU 1
Box Score
Records: FPU (0-1), UCI (1-0)
Location:  La Jolla, Calif. | Canyonview Aquatics Center
Series: The Sunbirds trail 3-0 against the Anteaters (last played in 2011)
 
Final Game Two: FPU 9, #17 Loyola Marymount 8
Box Score
Records: FPU (1-1), SMU (0-2)
Location:  La Jolla, Calif. | Canyonview Aquatics Center
Series: The Sunbirds trail 4-2 against the Lions (last played in 2016)
 
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QUOTABLE
• "We decided to start off the season with a tougher schedule this year. The guys attacked it with pride. Although our first game was against a traditionally top-tier team, they went at it with the right mind set against UCI. They carried that experience into the second game and it showed. LMU is a strong respected program. We played consistent and focused on defense. It's early in the season and we have a lot to improve on, but it always feels good to get a solid win under our belts this early." – head coach Bryan Suhovy
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• The Sunbirds jumped out to a 3-2 lead after the first quarter against LMU, and carried the momentum into halftime to hold a 6-4 advantage.
• After a tight second half, the Sunbirds found themselves down 8-7 with 3:25 to play. Garrett Pickford then played hero for FPU, scoring twice in the final three minutes to give FPU at 9-8 upset victory.
 
• In the opener, the Sunbirds struggled to get any momentum going against a very physical and talented UCI team. Uros Pelemis scored in the opening quarter for FPU, but the 'Eaters ran away with the victory by holding the Sunbirds scoreless the rest of the way.
 
STATS OF THE GAME:
• Pickford led the Sunbirds with a hat trick against LMU. Kyle Eoff and Lazar Raca added two goals apiece.
• Erik Brown and Richard Szepesi rounded out the scoring with one goal each.
• LMU received three goals from Matt Braun.
 
• In game two, Pelemis was the lone scorer for FPU.
• UCI had five players score more than one goal, led by Lovre Milos' four scores.
 
BEYOND THE BOX:
• FPU is making its first ever appearance at the Triton Invite. The tournament field also features Air Force (RV), Cal (1), Chapman, Concordia, Long Beach State (8), UC Davis (9), UC Santa Barbara (6) and host UC San Diego (12).
• The Sunbirds are now 2-8 all-time in season openers.
• UCI redshirted five players last season in preparation for 2017. The Golden Coast Conference received an automatic qualifier this year, a goal that the 'Eaters have in mind.
• LMU is a member of the Western Water Polo Association, the same conference as FPU, but Saturday's matchup was counted as a non-league match.
• The Sunbirds are now 2-1 in the last three meetings with Loyola Marymount. FPU also defeated the Lions in 2015 by a score of 12-11 in Fresno.
 
UP NEXT:
• The Sunbirds continue action at the Triton Invite with two more games tomorrow. The first match is slated for a start time of 8:30 a.m. against Concordia.