Trojans win but 49ers tough

USC needed something to cheer about Saturday after its football team lost to UCLA. Unfortunately, the Cal State Long Beach hockey team provided the Trojans with that opportunity.

The stands at Disney Ice were packed for the cross-county matchup that USC won, 4-1.

USC started the scoring early with a wrap-around goal 16 seconds into the game. CSULB played tough and held the Trojans scoreless for the rest of the period.

Goalie Jiro Wada made several good saves with his pads to deny the Trojans. Despite that, the 49ers found themselves down 2-0 at the end of the second period.

The 49ers' determination paid off in the third period when Martin Vinopal scored on a rebound tip-in. Chris Yarborough and Glenn Polonco were credited with the assists.

"Physically, we can beat good teams when we want to," assistant coach Darrell Griebel said. "We don't have all the skilled players in the world, so we have to win in other ways."

Griebel said he was filling in for head coach Doug Jones, who was on a business trip in Florida.

The 49ers had only 13 minutes of time spent in the penalty box compared to the Trojan's 28, but CSULB had three starters ejected from the game.

CSULB will have to play without those players due to the suspensions. Those players are defenseman Travis Gillespie, winger John Popich and goalie Jiro Wada.

Backup goalie Gene Takashima will start the next game against Orange Coast College Dec. 2 at Disney Ice in Anaheim.

"It will be Gene's game," Griebel said. "He has really improved this season and I think he will show what he can do."