Southern California Community College Water Polo Regionals : Golden West, Long Beach City Advance

The Golden West College and Long Beach City water polo teams qualified for the state finals Friday by winning the top two spots in the Southern California Regionals in Belmont Plaza at Long Beach.

Golden West, the defending state champions, defeated San Diego Mesa in the first round, 12-8. The No. 1-seeded Rustlers (25-3) defeated Cuesta, 15-9, to reach the final.

Second-seeded Long Beach City (26-2) advanced to the final by defeating Santa Monica, 13-4, in the first round and Orange Coast, 14-8, in the semifinal.

Golden West and Long Beach City meet tonight at 7:30 to decide the regional championship, but both go to the state tournament, which is next Friday and Saturday at Merced College.

Long Beach City and Golden West split four meetings during the regular season. Long Beach City won the first two. Golden West defeated Long Beach to win the Cypress Tournament and again to cause a tie for the championship of the South Coast Conference.

Orange Coast (24-5) defeated Rancho Santiago (19-7) in the first round, 8-7.