49ers Host Home Opener on Saturday
Beach Enter MPSF Match at 4-5 on the Season
March 1, 2007 NATIONAL LEADER BOARD
LBSU STATISTICS LONG BEACH, CA-- The Long Beach State women's water polo (4-5, 0-1 MPSF) will host their home opener on Saturday at the campus pool against fellow conference opponent, CS Northridge (5-7, 0-3 MPSF) on Saturday at noon. The 49ers are coming off a 14th place finish at the UC Irvine Invitational after losing three of four, after beginning the season by winning three of four at the UC San Diego Triton Classic. Their other loss came at then No. 4-ranked Hawaii, 10-9. The young 49ers have already beaten the Matadors once this season, 9-5, in the ninth place place in La Jolla as part of the Triton Classic. The same seven players have started throughout the season for first year Head Coach Catharine von Schwarz. The former national teamer is in her first season at the helm of the 49ers. SCORING LEADERS
Freshman Cecilia Canetti leads the squad in scoring at 18 goals, while senior Christina Wensman has 15 goals. Megan Winchell, after a career-best four goals in the team's one goal loss, is third on the team with 15 goals. The balanced attack concludes with fellow senior, Marina Canetti, and her 12 goals. The 49ers are shooting .325 as a team and averaging 8.5 goals per game. Cecilia Canetti has led the 49ers in scoring in four of the last seven games. PLAYING THEM CLOSE
Already this season, four of the 49ers five losses have been by two goals or less. Furthermore, loses at Hawaii (10-9), to Loyola Marymount (10-9) and Santa Clara (11-10 in double overtime) have been by a single goal. The team's margin of victory has slowly grown, from a one-goal win over CS Bakersfield and Princeton in San Diego to start the year, to a four-goal victory over Michigan on February 25. EARNING THE EJECTION
Senior Marina Canetti, who set the school-record with 105 earned ejections last year, is well on her way to breaking that mark this year. The senior and member of the Brazilian National Team has 48 earned ejections this season. The 49ers are converting on 33 percent of their 6-on-5 opportunities on the season. BLOCKING THE NET
Senior goalie and Long Beach area native Kim Hayes, third all-time in career saves, became just the second 49er in school-history to tallying 15 or more saves in a game, when she did so against Michigan. Hayes has 74 saves on the season and has allowed 8.9 goals per game over nine starts. WHERE THEY RANK
The 49ers rank 20th nationally in offense and 25th nationally in defense. Hayes ranks 14th in the nation in total saves, while Cecilia Canetti ranks 35th in scoring. | 
