The ninth-ranked Long Beach State men’s water polo team appears to be experiencing déjà vu, as it put together yet another impressive performance during the tournament season.
The 49ers (4-0) have demonstrated a proclivity for fast starts, as last year the team ended up on the right side of the scoreboard in each of its first seven games.
Victories over Pomona-Pitzer and La Verne on Saturday at the Inland Empire Classic have assured the 49ers at least a four-game unbeaten streak to start their seventh season under the guidance and leadership of head coach Gavin Arroyo.
In the first game, Long Beach trounced Pomona-Pitzer 15-4. Dan Matulis and Spencer White paced the 49ers with four goals apiece while Balint Meszaros and Sinan Karatay combined for 15 saves in net.
The Beach followed its rout of the Sagehens with a 16-6 drubbing of La Verne. Meszaros had nine saves to bring his total on the day to 15, and Dimitrios Lappas led the 49ers with three goals. The McConnell brothers, Nathan and Nolan, each had multi-goal games to back Lappas’ effort.
The 49ers have now out-scored their opponents 64-23 through the first four games.
Next week, LBSU will square-off with Pepperdine in the first game of the NorCal Tournament at Stanford. The Beach split a pair of games with the Waves last season, as the 49ers dropped the first match 11-9 during the LBSU-hosted SoCal tournament. In the second game, The Beach pulled out a double overtime victory on the road, 14-12.