Long Beach State University
UC Irvine
49ers Defeat Gauchos In 7th Place Game
2/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Sept. 16, 2007
BERKELEY, Calif. - Senior Travis Buchanan found the back of the net with five seconds left on the clock to lift #9 Long Beach State to a 10-9 win over #7 UC Santa Barbara in the 7th place game at the NorCal Tournament at Spieker Pool in Berkeley. Jeff Greenwood tallied three goals for the victorious 49ers while Reid Tomassi and Buchanan each scored twice. The Beach improves to 6-2 with the victory while the Gauchos fell to 10-4. In its morning contest the 49ers fell to #5 UC Irvine 12-9.
The 49ers and Gauchos were tied 5-5 at the half, but in the third quarter Long Beach put up three goals to the Gauchos one to grab an 8-6 advantage. The Gauchos tied the game late in the fourth quarter, before Buchanan's heroics. Adding goals for the 49ers were Nick Korsgaden, Jake Kinne and Clint Wilson. Goalie Steve MacKenzie recorded nine saves. Ross Sinclair led the Gauchos with three goals.
In its morning contest, Greenwood scored three goals and Tomassi two, but No. 5-ranked UC Irvine put up five goals in the fourth quarter to come away with a 12-9 win. After trailing 6-4 at the half, the 49ers out-scored UCI two-to-one in the third quarter to pull to within 7-6. But UCI jumped out quickly in the fourth quarter and was able to pull away and earn the 12-9 victory. Kinne, Buchanan, Korsgaden and Kevin Mundia tallied the other 49ers goals. MacKenzie recorded eight goalie saves.
For UCI, Colin Mello led the way with four goals while Tim Hutten and Cole Bittner each added three. Anteater goalie Matt Garcia stopped 14 Long Beach State shots.
The 49ers will next be in action on Saturday, September 22 when they host the Long Beach Mini Tournament at the 49er Campus Pool. The 49ers take on Long Beach City College (9:30 am) and UC Santa Barbara (3:30 pm). Also competing will be Golden West JC.
