Lions Return to Win NCAA Women’s Water Polo Championship 2025

The GCC Tournament Title Championship won by LMU women’s water polo on Sunday marks the team’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012. As they had done all weekend, the #9 Lions responded quickly and upset #8 Fresno State 14–12.

With the first three goals of the match coming from Sophia DeMattia, Anna Tarantino, and Yanah Gerber, the Lions gave LMU a 3-0 lead. Following FSU’s first goal, Ruth Arino Ruiz scored her first of the game to increase the margin to 4-1. The Bulldogs added on another to make the final score 4-2.

Skye Nankervis scored back-to-back goals of her own to give LMU the lead again after Fresno State knotted the score with back-to-back goals to start the second half. After Arino Ruiz, Tarantino, and Kawehi Kauahi scored the last five goals of the half, the Lions led 9–4 at the break.

Early in the second half, tournament MVP Arino Ruiz put the Bulldogs ahead 10–4, but they scored four goals in a row to cut the deficit to two. With two goals each, Tarantino and Carolina Magano ended the run. The score was 12-9 going into the final eight minutes after Fresno State added one more before the game concluded.

There were little over four minutes remaining in the fourth when Fresno State scored twice to go within one. With 3:49 remaining, the Lions had a two-goal lead thanks to a goal by Yanah Gerber, who was his route to an All-Tournament Team performance. At 2:53, the Bulldogs were within a goal after another goal by FSU. With less than a minute remaining, Magano’s goal gave LMU the assurance they needed to turn a two-goal lead into a win.

Alyssa Barnuevo’s performance for the All-Tournament Team included ten saves overall.

The NCAA Championships bracket will be decided by the NCAA Selection Show, which the Lions will watch. On Monday at 5:00 PM, the Selection Show will be broadcast on NCAA.com.