LA JOLLA, CA – After four losses against nationally ranked opposition in their first five games, the Hartwick water polo team got a huge 5-4 victory over Loyola Marymount on Saturday at UCSD's Canyonview Aquatic Center at the Triton Invitational. The Lions, ranked #9 in the nation, are the highest ranked team the Hawks have faced this season. The Hawks fell in their second match of the day to #11 Cal-Northridge 10-2.
           
In their opener, the Hawks trailed 3-2 in the third quarter but they ended the game with three of the last four goals to secure the victory. With the win, the Hawks improve to 2-5 overall. They play the winner of the Cal-Northridge-UC Davis game at 5:50 p.m. PST.
           
Hartwick broke the ice 3:35 into the game on a goal from Nikolina Mihajlovik (Mississauga, ONT) but Laura Lopes answered for the Lions just 12 ticks later to even the match at 1-1.
           
LMU jumped in front early in the second quarter following a tally from Kingsley Hill. The Hawks drew a penalty shot with 3:52 left in the half and Blanca Anton Cuesta (Madrid, Spain) stepped up and buried her shot for a 2-2 tie at the break.
           
The game remained 2-2 for nearly five minutes in the third quarter until Ivana Castro gave LMU a 3-2 advantage. Anton Cuesta's second goal of the game tied the score at 3-3 with 2:36 left in the quarter and Lauren Brennan (Canberra, Australia) put the Hawks up to stay 59 seconds later.
           
Hartwick got an insurance goal 4:19 from Brittany Tait (Kariong, Australia) at 4:19 for a 5-3 edge. With 1:30 showing on the game clock, Bridgette Alvarez pulled the Lions closer but it would be the final goal of the game in the 5-4 Hartwick win.  
           
Michaela Davies (Cronulla, Australia) played in goal for the Hawks. Jordan White was in net for the Lions.
           
The win for the Hawks is their second straight against LMU. 'Wick beat the Lions 15-12 last season at their own tournament when they were ranked eighth in the country.
           
In the nightcap, the Hawks lost to the Matadors for the second time in six days. Cal-Northridge took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter of play before the Hawks got on the board with a tally from Anton Cuesta with 58 seconds left.
           
Two straight Matador goals made it 5-1 before Mihajlovik cut the deficit to three with 1:58 left in the half. Cal-Northridge would then score before the break and it added four more scores in the second half of the game for the victory.
           
The Hawks, now 2-6 on the year, play #15 Long Beach State tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. PST. They close the tournament against either #12 UC San Diego or #13 San Diego State.