Water polo loses another heartbreaker to UC San Diego

Men's water polo • Junior driver Stefan Ludecke controls the ball during Saturday's Long Beach State Invitational. The 49ers went 1-1 in the tournament, including a 9 - 8 loss to UC San Diego. Forty-Niners defeated Brown University 14 - 5. Yulian Danusastro/Online Forty-Niner

 

By Moria Khou
Online Forty-Niner
Staff Writer

The up and down season continued for the men's water polo team as they hosted the Long Beach State Invitational, splitting the two matches, Saturday.

Long Beach State ranked No. 12 at 9-6 hit rough tides as they squared off against No. 6 UC San Diego for the tournament's opener, and lost 9-8.

This was the second time in as many meeting this season the 49ers got its hearts broken by the Tritons in a one-point defeat. UC San Diego left the 49ers adrift in the first contest at the Southern California Tournament with a goal by Chris Finegold as time expired to win, 10-9.

"We've been in every game this season," Head Coach Rick Azevedo said. "We just haven't been able to closeout the tough matches due to the lack of consistency."

The 49ers were all even against UC San Diego at 6-6 as they entered the final period. However, the game-high of four goals scored by junior, Brett McCleave were all for not as the Tritons outscored Long Beach State 3-2 in the fourth quarter to take away any home-pool advantage.

Despite grabbing eight saves to move up the Long Beach State all-times saves list for the second straight week, goalkeeper Thomas Onyshko downplayed his accomplishments and was highly critical of his play.

"Stats don't matter," the junior said. "I have to maintain focus and not worry about other people's job in the pool."

Onyshko (449) passed Duff Harold (436) to take sole possession of fourth place on the career saves list.

Junior Chris Eichholz led the Tritons with three goals, while his counter part, goalie, Colin McElroy stopped 10 shots by the 49ers.

In additions to McCleave's score, Jay Gerardi added two goals. Satoshi Sakata and Blake Bartak finished with one goal apiece.

Long Beach State's play was as different as night and day in the nightcap of the invitational as they went on to trounce Brown University, 14-5.

The 49ers won three of the four sprints to open each quarter, which foreshadowed their complete control over Bears. Long Beach State found the back of the net five times in the first period to equal Brown University's total output for the game. By halftime, the visiting team played for pride as they trailed by six goals. Coach Azevedo subbed in his reserves for the rest of the second half.

Long Beach State's red shirt freshman, Nick Korsgaden gave Brown's Jay Fantone a going away present. Korsgaden fired a shot into the visiting goalkeeper's face, which counted as his ninth save during the closing minutes of the match, but it ultimately left him woozy.

Gerritt Adams and Thomas Payton faired a little better than their goalie, as they both scored twice for Brown University. Graeme Lee-Wingate ended with one goal.

A total of eight players scored for Long Beach State, led by Reid Tomassi who had a game-high three goals. Bartak, Korsgadan and John Filipponi all finished with a pair of goals. Gerardi, Sakata, McCleave and Riley Brady rounded out the 49ers' attack with one score each.

Azevedo reiterated on his teams' lack of consistency and inability to get a long win streak going.

"Forget about consecutive wins," he said. "We're just trying to play well quarter-by-quarter."

The 49ers will open its Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) play against Pepperdine on Saturday at 12 p.m. at The Campus Pool.