With the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation schedule just beyond the horizon, it was time for the 49ers to make a statement. They came into Friday night’s game winners of their last five, but their last defeat came at the hands of the team that they now shared the pool with.
The tenth-ranked Long Beach State men’s water polo team jumped on Loyola Marymount early, crushing the Lions, 13-7, to salvage the season series between the two teams.
Long Beach (18-3) took two-of-three from the ninth-ranked Lions (11-8) this season. The 49ers came in expecting a battle and were ready from the get-go.
The Beach raced out to a big lead, shutting out LMU 5-0 in the first quarter. Nolan McConnell produced the game’s first two goals and wound up with a game-high five goals.
“I think this is the first game this season where we haven’t come out flat,” McConnell said of the fast start.
Devin Mefford added a hat trick, including two goals in the 49ers’ dominant first quarter. Five other players chipped in with single goals for The Beach.
Balint Meszaros and the 49ers defense had a standout game. Meszaros stopped nine shots, none bigger than his save to end the first half. With the 49ers leading 7-4 late in the second quarter, The Beach was primed to hold the ball for the final shot of the half. A turnover sent the Lions the other way on a breakaway, and Meszaros stoned the LMU attacker cold.
The 49ers offense had gone ice-cold, managing just a single goal from Nick Rascon through the first seven minutes of the second quarter. A late goal from the Lions off a turnover could have constituted a virtual meltdown and a complete loss of momentum held by the 49ers, but Meszaros came through in the clutch.
“I just rose up and kept my hands low,” said Meszaros. “I got lucky. There’s not a lot to think about in that situation.”
The Beach extended its lead to 12-7 after three quarters, and closed the game out with another shutdown frame against the Lions.
The team rallied around each other, shouting out encouraging remarks to one another throughout the match. Head coach Gavin Arroyo said that he feels his team’s chemistry is at a new high.
“The hope is to evolve as a group,” said Arroyo. “There are a lot of new faces and we are starting to play as a team.”
He also spoke of the victory as a big moment for his team moving forward, saying that the team wanted to respond strongly after losing the previous meeting with LMU.
“It definitely makes a difference,” said Arroyo. “They came into the game ranked ahead of us. We’re happy to capitalize on the home advantage.”
The 49ers begin MPSF play tonight when they host the defending champions, No. 1 USC (16-0), at 7 p.m. at the Campus Pool. The team is excited and ready to stand up to the test.
“It’s a big game for us,” McConnell said. “We feel confident that if we come out and play like we did today, we will be in the game.”