LOS ANGELES -- In a competitive Golden Coast Conference match at the Burns Aquatics Center in Los Angeles, No. 8 Loyola Marymount used a big second half for a 13-8 win over No. 19 San Diego State Aztecs on Saturday afternoon.

Trailing 6-3 after a Ioanna Petiki goal with 4:47 to play in the second quarter, the Lions scored seven straight to take over the game to earn their 17th straight win in GCC regular season action. The Lions went 7-0 in 2024 and 2025 and last lost on Apr. 1, 2023 to Fresno State (10-7). The Lions (11-3, 1-0) outscored San Diego State (8-7, 1-1) 7-2 in the second half, including a 6-1 third quarter to win their fifth straight.

Sydney Gish led the scoring for SDSU with three goals, while Megan Holcomb added two more. Mimi Stoupas, Ioanna Petiki, and Avery Sullivan each contributed to the Aztecs' total, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Lions' strong performance.

Loyola Marymount saw a balanced scoring effort, with Anna Tarantino and Cianne Benjamin each scoring two goals in key moments. Sophia DeMattia had four points, scoring a goal with three assists and a steal. Emison Styris had three points, scoring twice with an assist while adding two steals and two drawn exclusions. 

The game was tense throughout, with both teams exchanging goals in the first period. With the game tied 3-3, SDSU scored three straight to take that 6-3 lead. Chelsea Issac then capped a three-goal finish to the half for LMU, tying it at 6-6 with 56 seconds to play. LMU then opened with four more to start the third to pull away.