John Tessmer | Reporter
From Print [Dec. 1, 2015] | Legacy

Being just the second team in history to go to the National Collegiate Water Polo Association Men’s Division I Club Championship three years in a row, Lindenwood set another mark as they won for the second straight year.

After going 14-1 in the regular season and winning the Missouri Valley Championship, the Lions punched their ticket to the National Collegiate Water Polo Association Men’s Division I Club Championship.

Taking on the host, Santa Cruz, the Lions won 14-6 before having to take on the top-ranked team in the country, Long Beach State.

“It was very tough, they were a really good team and didn’t expect for us to win,” head coach David Miller

said. “They thought we were some team from the other part of the U.S. and they’d walk all over us.”

Long Beach State was wrong in underestimating the Lions, as they fell 16-9 to Lindenwood in convincing fashion.

Advancing to the quarterfinals against Dartmouth, a fast and physically strong team that had dominated throughout the season, the Lions played their most complete game.

“They were smart and fast and had a couple really strong players but just weren’t strong enough to keep up with us,” Miller said. “It was in the evening and was cold.”

Lindenwood then took on San Diego State in a rematch of last seasons National Championship.

“In the last 8 seconds, we were up by one and lost the ball with an offensive ordinary foul before our goalie Mario made an incredible stop to give us the victory,” Miller said.

The Lions won their second consecutive National Championship with the 10-9 victory over San Diego State.

The Lions are already looking to extend their championship streak as the team moves into the offseason to begin preparing for their quest for the three-peat.