Onyshko moves to fifth all-time, 49ers go 2-1 in tourney

By Moria Khou
Online Forty-Niner
Staff Writer

The Long Beach State men's water polo team dove into pool at the Northern California Tournament in Stockton this past weekend and came out 2-1.

Ranked No.12, the 49ers (8-5) opened tournament play against No.5 UC Irvine Saturday morning at Delta College. Neither team had home court advantage, but the talented Anteaters took command of the pool against the 49ers and won decidedly, 7-4.

The 49ers kept the game even after a quarter of play at 1-1. However, UC Irvine found the back of the net three times in the second period to take a 4-1 advantage into half time. The 49ers never bit away from the Anteaters' lead as they were matched goal for goal in the third period and finally blanked in the fourth quarter.

Junior Dreason Barry of UC Irvine led all players with four goals, while teammate and goalkeeper, Joe Wynne did the same at the opposite end of the pool with a game-high 11 stops.

John Filiponni led The Beach with two scores, followed by Brett McCleave and Jay Gerardi who both found the net once.

Long Beach State was slated for a Saturday nightcap against Navy, as the Academy looked to avenge its 7-6 defeat earlier in the season to the 49ers. However, the game had to be called-off as result of poor lighting at the facility.

The 49ers got some much-needed rest as they prepared for an 8 a.m. Sunday match against the No.19 Air Force. The time off was valuable as the 49ers edged out the Falcons 8-6.

The Air Force Academy scored two goals in the second, third and fourth quarter, but were shutout in the first. Putting up a blank in the opening period proved costly as the 49ers went on to win by just two goals. Long Beach State found the back of the net in every period, including three in the third.

Junior goalkeeper, Thomas Onyshko was the big story for The Beach in the match. Not only did the defensive leader finish with a season-high 12-saves, Onyshko also moved into fifth place all-time on the career saves (428) list for Long Beach State, passing Steve Byers (418).

The 49ers looked to finish the tournament strong as they squared off against No. 11 Princeton in the Sunday afternoon contest. Once again, The Beach showed its resiliency as they went on to defeat the Tigers, 10-7.

Princeton kept the game close at the end of the third period, just down one goal at 6-5. Nevertheless, the 49ers were through toying with the Tigers as they put the ball past Princeton's goalie Peter Sabbatini four times in the fourth to add another check to the victory column.

Junior John Stover had a game-high of four goals for Princeton.

McCleave, who found the back of the net three times in the match, took over the 49ers' season goal lead with 19. Gerardi equaled McCleave with three scores in the game, as Scoles finished with two goals, followed by Tomassi and Stefan Ludecke who chipped in with one apiece.

The water polo team will resume play on Saturday in a double-header against Brown and Pepperdine at the Campus Pool at 12:30 and 4 p.m. respectively.