FRESNO, Calif. -- It was an instant classic within Golden Coast Conference play in a battle of unbeatens as No. 13 LMU earned an 11-9 overtime win over No. 7 Fresno State at Fresno State Aquatics Center Saturday afternoon.

The teams picked up where they left off last season in the rematch of the 2024 GCC title game in which Fresno State won 13-12 in overtime. The teams combined for seven lead changes and nine ties as LMU scored the only two goals of overtime for the win. 

Yanah Gerber, Anna Tarantino, and Ruth Arino Ruiz led LMU (13-11, 3-0), contributing three goals. Arino Ruiz added two assists, two drawn ejections and two steals. Tarantino had a four-point day, adding an assist to go with a team-best five steals. Goalie Alyssa Barnuevo and the Lions' defense kept Fresno State off the board in the extra frames as she had three of her 12 saves in overtime.

Fresno State (9-7, 3-1) was led by Brooke Ochoa with five points, scoring four goals and an assist. Hailey Andress had three goals while Abbey Simshauser had a goal and two assists. In goal, Ida Tully-Giles logged 11 saves. 

The first quarter set the tone for the match, with LMU racing ahead to a 3-2 lead thanks to goals from Tarantino, Carolina Magano, and Kawehi Kauahi. Fresno State answered back with goals from Simshauser and Andress, keeping the game competitive early on. However, the second quarter saw a shift as LMU tightened their defense, preventing any further scoring by the Bulldogs while allowing a last-second goal from Elisa Grim.

Fresno State found their rhythm in the third quarter, particularly through the efforts of Ochoa, who scored all four of her goals in the second half. The fourth quarter became a nail-biter as both teams exchanged leads. With 2:28 to play in regulation, Andress scored on a five-meter to give Fresno State a 9-8 lead. Arino Ruiz answered with just over a minute left to tie the game at 9-9, sending it to overtime.

In overtime, the Lions' defense held strong, and Tarantino scored with 18 seconds left in the first overtime period for the 10-9 lead. Gerber found the back of the net once again with 43 seconds left in the second overtime frame for the final margin.

It is the Lions 12th straight win in GCC regular season play after going 7-0 last season. The Lions last defeat in GCC play during the regular season came on Apr. 1, 2023 to No. 9 Fresno State, 10-7.