UCI’s Merlo hits game-winning shot

UC Irvine junior Rick Merlo scored the game-winning goal with five

seconds remaining to lift the U.S. men’s water polo team past Russia,

7-6, at the World University Games in Daegu, South Korea, on

Wednesday.

Merlo’s shot into the left corner of the cage capped the

American’s comeback from a 6-3 deficit with less than six minutes

left in the game.

Michael Hausmann scored with 5:27 left to cut the Russians’ lead

to 6-4, Will Quist scored an extra-man goal at 4:26, then Matt

Flesher scored off a steal with 3:33 remaining to tie the game at

6-6, leading to Merlo’s heroics.

“I knew there was only about five seconds left in the game,” Merlo

said on the USOC Web site. “I had the idea that I would take a foul

and then shoot it because I couldn’t get the ball to the two-meter

man and I got lucky.

“The team played awesome in the fourth quarter. The emphasis

should be on the team and Merrill [Moses, the U.S. goalie].”

The United States continues second-round play against Serbia and

Montenegro on Thursday.

Orange Coast drops season opener

* GOLF: The Orange Coast College women’s golf team lost its season

opener to the state defending champion Mount San Antonio College,

306-361, at Costa Mesa Golf & Country Club’s Mesa Linda course

Wednesday.

Lorraine Fernando shot 80 for the Pirates, followed by Laura

Sumpter (86), Joanne Deroucher (89) and Ashlee Kendall (106). Mt.

SAC’s Erin Kato collected medalist honors with a 73.

Flag football league begins in Costa Mesa

* FOOTBALL: An adult flag football league, which features a

five-man, all-passing play scheme, will begin in Costa Mesa Sept. 28.

Registration for Top Gun flag football is also being conducted for

evening and weekend leagues opening in Garden Grove, Laguna Hills,

Orange and Westminster.

The flag football leagues also offer interleague playoffs with

four neighboring counties. Players must be 18 years or older. For

more information call (714) 773-4829 or on the Internet visit

https://www.topgunflagfootball.com.