Nov. 8, 2009

LONG BEACH, CALIF. - The No. 2-ranked Cal men's water polo team, led by sophomore standout Ivan Rackov's four goals, topped No. 8-ranked Long Beach State, 13-7, Sunday, Nov. 8 in Long Beach. The Golden Bears improved to 18-4 overall and 5-1 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, while the 49ers dropped to 8-11 and 1-6 in league play. Senior captain Mike Sample and redshirt freshman Spencer White added two goals apiece as Cal won its seventh match in a row.

The Bears owned a 4-3 lead early in the second period before notching four of the next five goals to put the match out of reach. Rackov tallied three of his four goals in the third period. The second-year player from Belgrade, Serbia also paced Cal with three assists and added three steals and two ejections earned.

Senior captain Spencer Warden also had a stellar match, leading the team with four steals and adding three assists and two ejections earned.

"Overall it was a very good weekend," said Cal coach Kirk Everist, as the Bears have now won 10 of their last 11 contests, including defeating UC Santa Barbara, 7-4, Saturday. "We played solid team defense in both matches and we got goals from eight different players, which is good to see. We are becoming a consistent team, which is important as we move into the final phase of the season."

Cal next hosts Pacific in an MPSF match on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 10:30 a.m. at Spieker Aquatics Complex. Earlier this season, the Bears defeated the Tigers, 11-7, in Stockton, and 14-6, in the first round of the UCI Invitational.

CAL: 4-4-4-1 --- 13
LBSU: 2-2-1-2 --- 7

CAL GOALS: Ivan Rackov -4, Mike Sample -2, Spencer White -2,
Zach Greenwood, Brian Dudley, Charlie Steffens,
Spencer Warden, Iosefa Tuiasau

LBSU GOALS: Farrington -2, Jo. Koeppen, Taylor, Schiefer,
van der Linde, Ju. Koeppen

LBSU GOALIE SAVES: Wiebe-Bailey -9

CAL SAVES: Wil Toppen -8; Justin Parsons -3