THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Behind a strong defensive effort and an efficient offense, the University of La Verne women's water polo team took a 6-3 lead on a Catie Tuning goal early in the second half against Cal Lutheran.

But the Regals ripped off six unanswered goals to end the third and start the fourth quarters to beat the Leopards, 10-7, on Wednesday evening at the Samuelson Aquatics Center.

La Verne had gone on a 5-0 run itself to take the lead. After CLU's Hannah Andrews put the Regals up 3-1 halfway into the second quarter, Sarah Jefferis and Amber Tardif scored consecutive goals to tie the game, and Lora Marquez-Salgado gave the Leopards their first lead of the game at 4-3 with about 1 minute, 20 seconds left in the first half. The Leopards carried the momentum out of the break and scored three more unanswered goals to take a 6-3 lead.

But the Regals regrouped. Amanda Jones put one in at about the 4:44 mark in the third, KC Brendel netted one at 2:42 and Sara Simpson scored with less than a minute left in the quarter to even the game at 6-6. Jordan Card then opened the fourth quarter with her first goal of the game and Jones added two more to give the Regals a 9-6 cushion with about five minutes left. Maddie Lovrensky stopped the bleeding with a about 2:31 left, but the Leopards couldn't muster two more and Card capped the game off with her second goal with 19 seconds left.

Marquez-Salgado and Amber Tardif each had two goals for the Leopards.

Jones finished with a game-high four scores for Cal Lutheran.

Jacqueline Rojas made nine saves in net for the Leopards and Gina Merry turned away six for the Regals.

La Verne falls to 5-23 overall and 1-6 in SCIAC play.

La Verne returns to the pool for its final regular season game against Redlands on Saturday at the La Verne Aquatics Center. Before the game, the Leopards will honor their lone senior, Samary Morales, in a senior day ceremony.