49ers rally but still lost to USC

Water polo team stumbles to 2-12, play Redlands today on campus

On paper, the prospect was grim for the Cal State Long Beach water polo team Saturday night. Its roster depleted to the point of having to play with essentially one reserve, the 49ers would somehow have to find a way to salvage some dignity against second-ranked USC.

The 49ers performed respectably against their Mountain Sports Federation rivals, but what unfolded at Belmont Plaza Pool was a familiar refrain for this season: USC 15, 49ers 12.

The game followed the expected script early on. USC bombarded the home team for six goals in the first period, while the 49ers managed only two shots on goal in falling behind, 6-1.

CSULB coach Ken Lindgren, who has gone through perhaps the most trying of his 20 seasons, saw another long night ahead of him. "I thought, 'Oh, boy, here it goes,'" Lindgren said. "It could have kept going that way."

Instead, the game gradually began to change direction. For every goal scored by USC, the 49ers had an answer. When CSULB's Travis England rocketed a two-pointer past Trojan goalkeeper Brendan Grubbs from 25 feet away with 2:24 left in the third period, the 49ers were within striking distance at 11-7. Lindgren said the 49ers' defensive effort was a key in keeping them close.

"(USC's) strength is offense and they showed that early," Lindgren said. "But we got in their faces. They (the 49ers) did a hell of a job. I can't say enough about them."

The 49ers (2-12) would get no closer than three goals, but the entire scene could have been a lot uglier if not for Dan Poppin.

Regularly a field player, Poppin was forced to play in goal because Adam Lee, the regular goalkeeper, was declared ineligible on a technicality. It was an unwelcome development for a team already reeling from injuries.

In his first collegiate game in goal, Poppin responded with five saves, keeping the 49ers close.

"He played a hell of a game," Lindgren said. "I hope our regular guy plays as well when he comes back. But I know he will."