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LOS ANGELES -- Second-seed and host LMU found offense to go with their defense in the first semifinal of the 2018 Golden Coast Conference Women's Water Polo Championships, defeating No. 3 seed San Diego State, 10-7, Saturday afternoon.

Hana Vilanova and Morgan Molly scored three goals each and goalie Claire Wright made 12 saves, including a pair in five-meter penalty shots, to lift the Lions (18-14) to Sunday's championship game at 2:30 pm. Emily Bennett and Karli Canale had two goals each for San Diego State (14-16), who will play in the third place game at 12:45 pm.

The Lions used a fast start, taking a 3-1 lead thanks to Abbey Grosse's goal with 31 seconds left in the first period. The Aztecs, however, cut the lead to one, 5-4, on a goal by Canale with just five seconds to play in the half.

San Diego State's Bennett would tie it on a 6-on-5 to start the second half. 

The teams would trade goals as Katie Hungerford gave LMU a 6-5 lead only to have Bennett tie it with 2:59 to play in the third.

LMU would then take over. They would score the next four goals, two by Vilanova, in a span of six minutes to push them back to the finals. The Lions won the first two GCC tournament titles in 2014 and 2015.