IRVINE, Calif. - Concordia University Irvine men's water polo driver Marius Jakimcikas earned WWPA Player of the Week honors after a stellar performance against the Air Force Academy on Saturday, a game in which the Eagles beat the Falcons 13-12 in overtime. 

Jakimcikas scored all five of his goals after half time.  None bigger than his fourth goal with 16 seconds left in the fourth quarter to force the game into OT.  He continued to dominate in overtime, scoring the game winning goal with 1:07 left on the clock.

"This award means a lot to me," said Jakimcikas.  "I have been working really hard and it's nice to see hard work paying off, but there is still a lot to do this season and hopefully we can finish it even stronger. 

Head coach Dreason Barry has watched Jakimcikas develop under his tutelage and is impressed with how he has handled the added pressure. Barry knows the work is not done but is excited to see what the last month of the season has in story for his team. 

"At the beginning of the season I mentioned that teams will need to adjust to Marius and when teams overplay him, he  will open up his teammates," said Barry. "A lot of our success in recent games is because Marius has elevated our team allowing other players like Messan Moore and Austin Barton to step up and have great games.  With that said, even with teams over playing Marius, he still finds ways to be unstoppable."

This is the ninth time that Jakimcikas had racked up five or more goals in a game this season.  As mentioned earlier this season, the junior from Lithuania has already broken the school record for most goals scored in a season and currently leads the Eagles with 81.  

Jakimcikas has been playing water polo from the time he was seven.  It has been a family affair his entire life and is grateful for the opportunity to play the game he loves. 

"Actually it was my mom that brought me to my first water polo practice when I was seven years old and I have never stopped playing ever since," said Jakimcikas.  "She was always keeping me on the right track and that is definitely one of the biggest reasons why I am still playing water polo and not another sport. I am really thankful for the chance to play water polo at Concordia because otherwise I wouldn't be where I am today."

His love for the game has gotten him to this point but he knows the work for the Eagles is not over yet. 

The Eagles are off to their best start in the WWPA and are 3-2 in conference and have won six out of their last eight games.  They look to carry this momentum with them as they take on No. 13 Loyola Marymount on Saturday, Nov. 2nd at 11:00 a.m.

For the full CUI men's water polo schedule, click here.