Loyola Marymount upsets UCLA

San Diego — Loyola Marymount defeated five-time defending national champion and top-ranked UCLA, 5-4, in the first round of the National Collegiate Women’s Water Polo Championships at the Aztec Aquaplex on Friday afternoon to advance to its first semifinal appearance since 2004 and claim one of the biggest victories in the program’s history.

The Lions will next face USC, which was tied with UCLA for first in the latest national poll, in a semifinal match at 5:45 p.m. Saturday. Second-seeded USC defeated Marist, 20-5, in its first-round matchup.

In other results Friday, Stanford beat Pomona-Pitzer, 23-3, and California defeated Michigan, 12-8. Stanford will meet Cal in the semifinals at 4 p.m. Saturday.

For Loyola Marymount, Friday’s victory was its first over the Bruins in 15 tries and its first ever against a top-ranked opponent. In the process, the Lions became the lowest-seeded team (No. 6) to advance to the semifinals of the NCAA tournament.