Community College Water Polo : Rancho Santiago, Golden West Clinch State Berths

No. 1-ranked Rancho Santiago College rallied from a 5-3 third-quarter deficit Friday night and defeated Long Beach City, 11-10, in a fight-marred, second-round match in the Southern California Championship at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach.

The Dons (26-1), who defeated Santa Monica earlier Friday, 16-10, in a first-round match, will meet Golden West (18-5) tonight for the championship at 7:30. Golden West defeated Cuesta, 11-10, and Citrus, 15-11, on Friday.

Rancho Santiago and Golden West have already clinched berths in next week’s State Championship Tournament, which will be held at Cuesta College.

John O’Neal and Darin Haskins led the Dons against Long Beach City with three goals each. A fight erupted with nine seconds left, resulting in the ejection of Rancho Santiago’s Steve Redding and the Vikings’ Mitch Garrison.

Long Beach City had earlier eliminated Saddleback, 11-10, in overtime.

In other Southern California championship tournament action:

Citrus 14, Orange Coast 11--The Owls, the second-place team in the Inland Conference, eliminated the Pirates, the champions of the Pacific Coast Conference. Eric Keller scored four goals to lead Orange Coast.