From Reports By Long Beach State Sports Information Department

In their first of three home games this weekend, Long Beach State (12-14, 0-5) faced off against the sixth-ranked Loyola Marymount (17-9), a non-conference foe, for the the fourth time this season. LBSU took a commanding lead in the second period against Loyola Marymount, and when the Lions made a charge late in the game to come within one goal, the 49ers were able to hold on for their first home win of the season, 10-9.

Kevin van Haaster scored the first goal of the game after a slow five minutes in the first period, but LMU was able to answer with a shot of their own almost two minutes later. With :28 seconds left in the first, Long Beach State scored again with a put-in from freshman Jordan Koeppen, and the 49ers took a 2-1 lead into the second period.

The second period belonged to the Beach, who began the quarter with a goal from Justin Koeppen when the ball rebounded into his hands from another LBSU shot that bounced off the crossbar. Long Beach State went on to outscore the Lions 4-2 in the second, the only LMU goals coming from 6-on-5 conversions, and the 49ers took a 6-3 lead into halftime.

The squads were evenly matched in the third period as the squads swapped goals; Justin Koeppen scored his second goal of the game and Aleksander Petrovic his first, and the 49ers led 8-5 heading into the fourth period.

First up for the Beach was another goal from Petrovic to put the 49ers up by four. The Lions responded swiftly, however, with the third goal of the night from Edgaras Asajavicius. Two minutes later, 49er senior Ash Blythen pulled off the goal of the night, using a spinning underwater move to get past two defenders and lob the ball into the net.

The Lions used the next four minutes to play catch-up, and they almost did, coming within one goal of LBSU with only :25 seconds left to play. With possession, the 49ers were able to hold onto the ball for the rest of the game, and shut down the Lion charge to come away with a 10-9 victory over the sixth-ranked squad.

Goalie Derek Wiebe-Bailey notched five saves in the match, and senior Kevin vanHaaster nabbed his fifth hat trick of the season.

The home win propels the 49ers into high spirits as they get ready for a tough match Saturday afternoon against the No. 4 Cal Bears. Join the Beach as they take on the Golden Bears at 12:00 p.m. PT Saturday afternoon at the 49er Campus Pool.