Oct. 15, 2009

IRVINE, Calif. --- Brandon Johnson connected on an extra-man goal with 1:05 remaining in the second overtime period to lift No. 9 UC Irvine over seventh-ranked Long Beach State, 9-8, at Anteater Pool Thursday night.

Johnson scored a game-high three goals in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation opener for UCI (10-5, 1-0). Cole Bielskis and Kyle Baxter added two goals each for the `Eaters in the "Black & Blue" Rivalry game.

The Anteaters took a 7-5 lead on a goal by Kyle Kruip with 2:21 remaining in the third quarter, but the 49ers (6-7, 0-2) drew even on fourth-quarter goals by Kevin Mundia (6:57) and Aleksandr Petrovic (6:07).

Long Beach State took an 8-7 lead on a power-play goal by Justin Koeppen with 1:18 left in the first three-minute overtime period.

In the second overtime, Kyle Baxter tied the game at 8-8 on an extra-man goal with 2:22 left and Johnson hit what proved to be the game-winning goal with 1:05 remaining. The 49ers turned the ball over with 18 seconds left and UCI ran out the clock.

Petrovic, Taylor Clute and Mundia scored two goals apiece for Long Beach State.

This was the third one-goal game between the teams this season with UCI coming out on top in two of the contests.

On Saturday, the Anteaters host UC Santa Barbara at 12 noon and California Baptist at 6:00 p.m. in non-conference games.

MPSF Men's Water Polo

Long Beach State   4 - 1 - 0 - 2 - 1 - 0 --- 8
UC Irvine              2 - 2 - 3 - 0 - 0 - 2 --- 9

UCI: Brandon Johnson 3, Cole Bielskis 2, Kyle Baxter 2, Tom Kruip, Kyle Kruip.

Saves: Derek Wiebe-Bailey (LBSU) 8; Matt Johnson (UCI) 6.