U.S. OLYMPIC FESTIVAL: ORANGE COUNTY’S DAY : LOS ANGELES 1991 : NOTEBOOK : Water Polo Veterans Keep the South Afloat

Greg Boyer had been in this situation before. But so had Peter Campbell.

Many times before.

With the outcome of an Olympic Festival water polo match on the line, was it any wonder that the outcome would fall on the shoulders of two veterans--Boyer, 33, and Campbell, 31?

Campbell, who took a pass from Fullerton’s Andrew Tinseth, outmaneuvered Boyer and scored with four seconds remaining as the South capped a two-goal rally in the final 54 seconds of a 10-10 tie Thursday night at Cal State Long Beach.

“It was a great shot,” Boyer said. “But I would like to see Peter do it again.”

Boyer, playing in his first festival, and Campbell, playing in his second, are no strangers to big matches. They played on the U.S. national team together for seven years, winning the silver medal at the 1988 Olympics.

And although they live less than a half-hour away from each other--Boyer in Laguna Beach and Campbell in Irvine--they were on opposing teams at the festival.

“He’s a good friend,” Boyer said. “If someone has to make a shot like that against me, I’m glad it’s him. He’s a tough one to cover. He’s pretty slippery.”

Boyer scored his second goal of the match from the middle with 3 minutes 47 seconds remaining to give the West a 10-8 lead.

Then the comeback began.

The South’s David Chaney of Chino scored his second goal of the match with 54 seconds left, cutting the deficit to 10-9.

After the West failed to convert on its next possession, the South got the ball back with 21 seconds left.

The ball went straight to Campbell, who was camping about 10 feet from the goal. Boyer knocked the ball away briefly, but Campbell recovered, fired it over Boyer and past goalie Mike Rall of Riverside.

East wins: Richard Russey of Fullerton scored three goals as the East pounded the North, 13-7.

Greg Morris of San Clemente had two goals for the North (1-4).