Strong
performance during conference opener for
49ers
Water
polo: Team defeats UC Irvine 7-5 Sunday
in Big West Conference opener.
By
Trent Loomis
On-line Forty-Niner
The
Long Beach State 49er men's water polo team
led by Junior Erik Geoffroy beat division
rival UC Irvine 7-5 Sunday in Irvine.
Long
Beach jumped out to a quick 1-0 record in
their Mountain Pacific Sport Federation
opener behind the stellar play of Geoffroy
who scored five of the teams seven goals.
This
victory brings the 49ers record to 11-7
overall and a No. 7 ranking, while
the Anteaters fall to 8-10 and No. 8 in
the polls. The 49ers never trailed in the
game and took the lead for good with 1:01
remaining in the first half when Geoffroy
found the back of the Anteaters net, giving
the 49ers a 3-2 halftime lead.
Geoffroy
didn't hog the spotlight when freshman Reid
Tomassi and senior Jason Palda scored decisive
goals to give LBSU the lead for good. 49er
goalie Thomas Onyshko's 13 saves anchored
the defense that wouldn't quit.
Quitting
was not in Geoffroy's plans either as he
scored back-to-back goals, including one
on a penalty shot, late in the third quarter
to extend the lead to 6-3. He finally stopped
scoring, much to the approval to the Anteaters
and their fans with 4:29 left in the game
giving the 49ers a comfortable 7-4 lead.
Scoring
without regard for the opponent is nothing
new to Geoffroy whose five goals tied his
career-high. He scored three goals in a
game three times during the 2002 season,
and put up three goals this season against
UCLA at the NorCal Tournament on Oct. 5.
UCI
had a bright spot Sunday by the name of
Phil Garcia. Garcia scored three goals,
but to no avail.
Long
Beach will continue its road trip this weekend
when it plays at Pacific Saturday, Oct.
25 and then at UC Berkely Sunday, Oct. 26.
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