Sophomore Nick Rascon combined to score seven goals in two games, but it wasn't enough as Long Beach State men's water polo team dropped a pair of matches at the NorCal Tournament in Stockton, Calif. on Saturday. The 49ers opened the tournament with an 8-7 loss to UC Irvine, before falling 11-7 to West Valley Junior College in an exhibition game.
The 49ers (7-1) will face the loser of Saturday's St. Francis-Santa Clara game on Sunday at 8 a.m. at Delta Junior College. The 49ers will also play at either 1:20 p.m. or 2:40 p.m. against an opponent to be determined to wrap up the tournament.
Game 1: UC Irvine 8, Long Beach State 7
Junior Brian Schiefer scored three goals to pace Long Beach but the 49ers were outscored 5-1 in the second half en route to an opening-round loss to the Anteaters.
The 49ers built a 6-3 lead at halftime with five different players finding the back of the net. Freshman Milos Vrzic opened the scoring with a soft lob over the outstretched fingers of UCI goalie Jimmie Friedrich. After UCI tied it on a 6-on-5 goal by Nick Pfeil, LBSU (7-1) answered with a pair of goals by freshman Devin Mefford and Schiefer to take a 3-1 lead after one period.
The Anteaters narrowed the lead to 3-2 with two minutes and 11 seconds into the second period, before the 49ers got back-to-back goals by Nathan McConnell and Schiefer to take a 5-2 lead. UCI cut the lead back to two on a goal with 1:22 to play in the half, but sophomore Nick Rascon answered with a goal off an assist from Vrzic to give the 49ers a three-goal halftime lead.
Long Beach sputtered in the second half, as UCI outscored the 49ers 5-1. Schiefer scored his third goal with 3:13 to play in the third quarter, but LBSU went scoreless the final 11:13 of the game to drop its first game of the season.
UCI scored the only two fourth period goals, with the game winner by Jacob Mourer coming with 1:02 to play. Matthew Kubeck finished with six saves for the 49ers, while Friedrich had 10 for the Anteaters, including five in the fourth period.
Game 2: West Valley JC 11, Long Beach State 7 (Exhibition)
Sophomore Nick Rascon scored six goals but it wasn't enough as the 49ers dropped a 11-7 decision to West Valley Junior College.
The 49ers, coming off a disheartening loss to UC Irvine earlier in the day, fell behind early trailing 5-2 at the half. West Valley scored the first two goals of the second half to push the lead to five, and the 49ers were never able to get closer than three the rest of the way.
Rascon scored both 49er first half goals, one in the first period and one in the second period, while adding two goals in both the third and fourth periods. Devin Mefford scored LBSU's only other goal.
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