LMU Water Polo: Lions gain No. 10 ranking after beating Navy

With David Carrasco scoring six goals in the first half, the Loyola Marymount University men’s water polo team defeated the U.S. Naval Academy 16-9 Oct. 6 at Burns Center.

Carrasco scored in the first two minutes of the match, then twice more after Navy (11-7) tied the score. Two goals by Jonny Rimlinger gave LMU a 5-1 advantage after one quarter.

After Navy cut the lead by one, Alexandros Athymaritis — earlier named Western Water Polo Association Player of the Week — scored the first of his three goals of the match. Before the half ended, Luke Chandler scored once and Carrasco (who also had four assists) tallied three more times for a commanding 11-5 lead.       

In the second half, Daniel Roth scored twice and Athymaritis, Rimlinger, and Joseph Cavazos once each, as the Lions maintained control, running their record to 6-7. Former Damien star Zach Luci scored a goal for Navy.    

Their strong recent showing against powerful competitions has moved the Lions in tenth place nationally as they begin a stretch of three straight WWPA conference matches on Oct. 12, hosting UC San Diego at Burns Center (1 p.m.).