AUBURN - Pat O'Donovan took first in the 100 freestyle (49.53), and Sean McNamara picked up an important second-place finish (51.05) as the Auburn boys swimming team defeated Liverpool, 90-80, Friday. The win was the first against Liverpool this decade and the first of Rich Hamberger's coaching career, which began at Auburn in 1998.

“The turning point was the 100 free,” Hamberger said. “McNamara taking second was huge...he busted out in the last lap and caught and passed (Liverpool's Kevin Murphy).”

Liverpool took an early lead after winning the 200 medley relay, but the Maroons tied it up 31-31 after McNamara took first in the 50 freestyle (23.31).

O'Donovan's win in the 100 free put Auburn up for good. Preston Chaffee took first in the 500 freestyle (5:13.57), Cameron Lovenduski won the 100 backstroke (59.91), and the Maroons won the final two relays.

O'Donovan, Tristan White, McNamara and Lucas Zelahowsky won the 200 free relay (1:34.87) while McNamara, Chaffee, Zelahowsky and White took first in the 400 free relay (3:36.88).

“We actually had a few different lineups,” Hamberger said. “I made one, Preston made one. We had a pasta dinner Wednesday where we sat down, put both lineups together and decided which was best.”

The deliberation paid off as Liverpool used its stronger swimmers early while Auburn was more prepared for the final stretch.

O'Donovan, Chaffee, Lovenduski and Mark Cool finished second in the 200 medley relay (1:46.84) and O'Donovan won the 200 freestyle (1:53.26).

Chaffee was second in the 200 IM (2:08.04), Zelahowsky was second in the 100 butterfly (58.77), and White was second in the 100 backstroke (1:00.69).

Auburn (4-0) travels to Baldwinsville Tuesday.