BOX SCORE • GCC CHAMPIONSHIPS • PHOTOS

STOCKTON, Calif. - Behind smothering defense, No. 3 seed LMU captured the 2015 Golden Coast Conference Championship with a 9-5 victory over San Diego State Saturday at Pacific's Chris Kjeldsen Pool. The Lions are repeat championships, defending their title in the GCC's inaugural season in 2014.

All-Tournament Team goalkeeper Jordan White made eight saves and held opponents to just eight goals in the last eight quarters of the tournament. Ivana Castro and Laura Lopez each posted hat tricks for LMU, who concludes their season at 22-11 and win their 11th conference title since 2001.

San Diego State finishes the 2015 campaign at 17-15.

Carina Carballo and Kiana Etrata traded first-quarter goals. In the second quarter, Ashtynn Nelson put LMU up with a 6-on-5 goal, and Ivana Castro provided a 3-1 margin for LMU.

Bridgette Alvarez and Lopez opened the third quarter with goals for a 5-1 Lions' lead. Alyssa Diacono muscled home a goal from center for SDSU, but Castro responded with a deep goal to the upper right to restore the four-goal lead.

Nikole Ferrari cut the gap to 6-3, but White made a save on SDSU in transition as the Lions carried the three-goal advantage into the fourth quarter.

Castro's third goal with 6:25 lead brought the lead back to four before co-Player of the Year Caroline Israels kept the Aztecs alive with 4:31 to go. But the Lions' Laura Lopez scored twice in the fourth quarter. Ioli Benekou added a late go for the Aztecs before the Lions ran the clock out to capture the GCC title.

Mackenzie Beck earned Tournament MVP honors with nine goals in three games.

Rachel Mitchell and Alyssa Diacono also earned All-Tournament Team honors for San Diego State. Rounding out the All-Tournament Team was Elle Surber of Santa Clara, Hannah Evans of Cal Baptist, Michele Relton of Pacific.