Sept. 10, 2004

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The Santa Clara University men's water polo team dropped a hard fought 8-6 contest at 10th-ranked Loyola Marymount on Friday afternoon at Burns Aquatics Center in Los Angeles, Calif.

"This is the best we have played against Loyola Marymount in many years," said head coach Keith Wilbur. "We are never happy with a loss, but this game brings us one step closer to a win. It has given us something to build on."

The Broncos jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first quarter. Grant Allison opened the scoring in the first minute as Kenny Flanagan-De La Hoz and Matthew Martin each added a goal in the opening period.

The teams would seesaw through the second period and went into halftime tied at 4-4. Two-meter player Kevin Starry, who played strong in front of the net, scored the fourth Bronco goal on a 6-on-5 opportunity with 4:25 remaining in the half.

Despite the Lions taking a 6-4 advantage in the third frame, the Broncos would rally in the final period to even the score at 6-6. Flanagan-De La Hoz and Allison would each find the back of the cage in the fourth quarter, as Allison's second goal of the contest brought the teams even with 3:53 left in the match. However, the Lions would score twice in the final minutes to barely edge SCU.

Goalkeeper Peter Moore was instrumental in the Bronco's play, having a solid day in the cage with nine saves and two steals.

The Broncos will stay in Southern California through the weekend as they travel East from Los Angeles to the Redlands Tournament. On Saturday, SCU will face two more nationally ranked opponents in Pepperdine and UC San Diego in LaVerne, Calif. The squad will wrap-up its tournament in Redlands, playing Chapman and the host, University of Redlands, on Sunday.