Beach Falls In Double Overtime Thriller September 8, 2001 LOS ANGELES, CA--The Long Beach State men’s water polo team began its 2001 season with a heartbreaking 7-6, double overtime, loss to #1-ranked USC at McDonald Swim Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Trojans scored twice in the second overtime period to secure the win in the season opener for both squads. The match was a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) game and counts in the league standings.
With the game tied 5-5 at the end of regulation, both squads played an aggressive first overtime period, but neither team could score. The 49ers had a chance with less than a minute in the OT period as Scott Miller (Long Beach/Wilson HS) and Nathan Allard (La Habra) had a two-on-one break opportunity, but Miller's shot missed the net. In the second overtime period the Trojans went up 6-5 at the 2:04 mark on a goal by Predrag Damjanov (Belgrade, Yugoslavia), his second of the day. The Trojans were able to take advantag,e and score, after an ejection on the 49ers Chris Segesman. USC came right back to score at 1:28, as Ivan Babic scored from 15 yards out. The 49ers had two consecutive turnovers on trips down the pool and USC capatilized on each mistake.
“We had a golden opportunity at the end of regulation with the breakaway, but we didn't score,” said 49er head coach Rick Azevedo. “That hurt. We started a little down in the first overtime, but we fought hard. In the second overtime, we just made a couple of mistakes and that was the kiss of death. I'm still happy with the way the game went. This is just the first game of the season, but we have a lot to look forward to.”
The 49ers got on the board first in the contest as Allard scored at the 5:55 mark in the first quarter. 49er goalie Brett Adolph (La Mesa) recorded seven of his 10 goalie saves in the first half and didn't allow a goal in the first quarter. USC's first tally came at 3:45 in period two on a shot by Brett Reynolds. Aaron Holloway (El Segundo) scored the first of his two goals at the 2:41 mark to put The Beach up 2-1, only to see the Trojans tie the score at 1:51 on a goal by James Shin. The two teams broke at the half with the score tied 2-2.
Trailing 4-3 after three periods, the 49ers fought back to force overtime. All-American Chris Segesman (Goleta) scored both of the 49ers fourth period goals. His first came at 5:48 on a breakaway opportunity and the second came at 2:55 as the 49ers scored on a six-on-five advantage. Segesman's second goal tied the game at 5-5. Long Beach had the ball at the end of the game, but couldn't get a shot off. While trying to get the back down low to Allard, the Trojans were able to steal the ball and send the game to OT.
“Brett (Adolph) was very solid for us in goal,” said Azevedo. “The defense in frot of him helped him out a lot as well. Segesman was outstanding with two fourth quarter goals and Allard had a great game. He got five ejections on USC and scored a goal. We exectued the tactics and I'm happy with that.”
The 49ers will next be in action on Friday, September 14 as they host the University of Massachusetts at 4:00 pm at the 49er Campus Pool in their home opener.
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT1 | OT2 | FINAL | | LBSU | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | | USC | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
Scoring: LBSU: Chris Segesman (2), Aaron Holloway (2), Nathan Allard, Kellyn Carlson
USC: Ivan Babic (2), Predrag Damjanov (2), James Shin, Daniel Lontay, Brett Reynolds
Goalie Saves: LBSU: Brett Adolph 10 / USC: Bozidar Damjanovic 5
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