The first home win of the season for the Long Beach State men’s water polo team came Thursday night in a 10-9 victory over No. 6 Loyola Marymount.
Head coach Gavin Arroyo said the win “established confidence” and the team “was ready to compete.”
After leading the game 8-5 going into the fourth quarter, things looked to be going pretty well for the 49ers. Aleksander Petrovic scored within the first two minutes of the quarter, increasing the lead to four. LMU’s Edgaras Asajavicius answered back with his third goal of the game.
Perhaps the highlight of the game was a backspin goal by Ashley Blythen while swarmed with two defenders and goalie Andy Stevens. Blythen’s goal, with only four minutes remaining in the match, gave the 49ers breathing room yet again with a four-goal lead.
However, LBSU’s lead became gravely endangered after LMU went on a three-goal run, making it a one-goal difference. Yet the 49er defense held out in the final seconds for the win.
LBSU’s Kevin VanHaaster said, “We had to figure out how to come together. We needed to close out, play well [all] four quarters of the game. That’s what we did tonight.”
No. 10 Long Beach State (12-14, 0-5) made their presence felt throughout the game, setting the pace for the Lions to keep up with. VanHaaster scored the first goal of the game after an unfruitful five minutes of play.
LMU answered back with a goal of their own, however, freshman Jordan Koeppen would put the ball away with only seconds remaining in the first quarter to give the 49ers the lead.
The second quarter opened with brother Justin Koeppen scoring less than one minute into play, to spark a three-goal run. After a swapping of goals, LBSU remained on top, 6-3, at the half.
