Long Beach State University
Redlands
49ers Open Season With A Pair Of Victories
2/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Sept. 8, 2007
REDLANDS, Calif. - The Long Beach State men's water polo team kicked off its 2007 season in fine fashion on Saturday with a couple of wins at the Inland Empire Classic. In the opener, Jeff Greenwood and Sean Greiner each scored three goals as the 49ers rolled past Redlands, 12-8. In the afternoon contest, Greenwood added five more goals to lift Long Beach to a 17-6 win over Chapman. The 49ers are 2-0 on the season and will continue play at the Classic on Sunday taking on Pomona-Pitzer and LaVerne.
Long Beach established its offense early in its opener against Redlands, jumping to a 5-0 lead after just one quarter. The 49ers then added three more goals in the second quarter to take an 8-2 halftime lead. In the second half the 49ers emptied their bench giving several players an opportunity to hit the water. Greiner, a true freshman out of Esperanza High School, was playing in his first game as a 49er and made quite an impact with his three goals. Sophomore Justin Koeppen added two goals for Long Beach while Reid Tomassi, Nick Korsgaden, Clint Wilson and Jake Kinne each tallied one goal. Senior goalie Steve MacKenzie recorded six goalie saves in the first half, while allowing just two goals. In the second half, sophomore Derek Wiebe-Bailey was in the cage and garnered five saves.
In their second contest, the 49ers used its size and strength, and deep bench, to pull away in the second half against the Panthers. The 49ers led 4-3 at the half, but out-scored Chapman 13-3 in the second stanza to earn the 17-6 win. Greenwood's five goals ties his career-high, which he set last season. Junior newcomer Jake Kinne added a career-best four goals, Koeppen three and junior Kevin vanHaaster added two. Once again the 49ers played both of their goalies. MacKenzie recorded three saves in the opening half while Wiebe-Bailey had three in the second.
The 49ers racked up 29 goals in the first two games as Greenwood led the way with eight goals, Kinne added five on the day, as did Koeppen.
