49ers pull out huge victory over No. 2 USC

By Jeff Dusing
Daily Forty-Niner

The Long Beach State men's water polo team came out fighting Sunday in an 11-9 win over No. 2 ranked USC at Campus Pool.

Sunday's win marked the seventh straight win for the 49ers (10-3 overall, 2-0 MPSF), the longest winning streak since an eight game run in 1989.

The Beach also broke an 18 game losing streak in play against USC (10-3 overall, 3-2 MPSF).

"I was very happy with the way the guys played," said Head Coach Rick Azevedo. "We played scared for a couple minutes and then after that I was just so proud of the execution."

As the game started, LBSU was the first to score with a goal by junior Scott Miller at 1:42.

The Beach's lead proved to be short-lived as the Trojans brought the score to 3-1 just over three minutes into the first period.

With momentum growing in the Trojan camp, the first half ended with USC on top, 6-4.

Long Beach came out ready to play in the second half, outscoring the Trojans by a margin of 7-3.

Junior Justin Jewell led the charge, scoring twice in the third, including the tying goal that brought the score to 7-7.

With the third period drawing to a close, junior Aaron Holloway took advantage of an opportunity provided by the 20-second ejection of USC's goalie Bozldar Damjanovic.

Holloway's goal from the right wing put the 49ers ahead 9-8 going into the fourth.

"We really stepped it up and played with a lot of heart," Holloway said.

Holloway and Miller then capitalized on a 2-on-1 break and Holloway stretched the 49er lead to 10-8.

USC's Steven O'Rourke scored his second goal with minutes to play, slicing the 49er lead back to one.

In the last minutes of the game, 49er Nathan Allard notched the final goal of the game, securing the 11-9 victory.

"It was a good win," Allard said. "It was two teams playing great polo and we just happened be able to get the win."

• President gives words of wisdo
• Radio personality's apology hollow