LA JOLLA, Calif. – The Mercyhurst women's water polo team fell just shy of completing another fourth-quarter comeback in its 9-2 loss to Fresno Pacific in the fifth-place game at the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Championships at Canyonview Aquatic Center Sunday.

The Lakers placed sixth for the tournament and completed their 2018 season with a 13-8 overall record.

Maddie Nye had four goals to lead the Lakers with Erin Glass, Sarah Hershey, and Mackenzie Ryburn adding one each.

Fresno Pacific got off to a hot start with the game's first three goals in the first quarter. The Lakers bounced back with the next two scores to pull within one.

Late in the second period, Nye scored on a five-meter penalty shot to put the score at 5-3, but the Firebirds added one more before the half to take a three-goal lead after two quarters.

Trailing by three entering the fourth quarter, Mercyhurst scored twice to pull back within one, but Fresno Pacific scored a key insurance goal with 2:25 remaining to lead 9-7.

Mercyhurst had a couple of tries on net late, but did not convert and time expired.

The Lakers' 13-win total is their highest win total since 2013 when they went 14-17.