LOS ANGELES -- In a competitive matchup under the light at the Burns Aquatics Center in Los Angeles, No. 13 Loyola Marymount used a 6-2 edge in the third quarter to push them over the top against No. 23 Pacific, 16-12, in Golden Coast Conference action Friday night. 

Loyola Marymount (12-9, 2-0) was led by reigning GCC Player of the Year Ruth Arino Ruiz, who scored six goals with an assist, while Anna Tarantino contributed four goals to the victory. Their dynamic offense proved to be too much for Pacific to handle, particularly in the third period, where LMU scored the six goals to turn a one-goal deficit, 8-7 at halftime, to a lead they would not let go of.

For the Tigers (7-6, 1-1), Addison McGowan shone brightly with three goals, followed by Dora Alaksza, Anna Crum, and Ella Cowan, who each netted two goals. 

Pacific was strong early, taking two-goal leads of 5-3, 6-4 and 7-5. The last coming on a McGowan goal with 2:52 left in the first half. Arino Ruiz and Mikayla Lopez scored on back-to-back possessions to tie the game at 7-7 with :26 left. Ilyana Zlobinsky gave Pacific that 8-7 halftime lead, scoring with just :01 on the clock. 

The teams traded goal to open the second half and Arino Ruiz' five-meter goal tied the game at 9-9 with 5:14 to play in the quarter. It would be the first of four straight goals for the Lions as they built a 12-9 lead and would not look back. It is the Lions 11th 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.