Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State University
UC Santa Barbara
Long Beach State Ends Season With Win Over Top Seed UC Santa Barbara
11/20/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Stockton, Calif. - The score was tied after one period but Long Beach State was able to fend off top seeded UC Santa Barbara with a flurry of offense to capture a 12-10 win over the Gauchos on Sunday afternoon.
Mitchell Holden was the star in the first period for the Beach. He scored two goals in the first two minutes of the game and assisted on a Duncan Lynde goal a few minutes later. The score was knotted up at 3-3 after one.
The second period also yielded a high scoring result as the two teams combined to score nine goals. Austin Stewart converted on two goals from the perimeter and Duncan Lynde added two more goals, both of the power play variety from the inside. Austin Stevenson also recorded a power play goal of his own. LBSU led 9-7 at the break.
UCSB struck first in the second half as Mitchell Hamilton scored a minute into the third period off the setup by Ivan Gvodanovic. But the Beach would respond with two straight power play goals, one by Nolan McConnell and the other by Austin Stevenson. The teams would trade scores in the last half of the period as the score stood at 11-9 in favor of Long Beach State after three.
The offenses for both teams were slowed in the fourth period. The Gauchos were able to convert on a power play opportunity with 4:30 left to play. Austin Stevenson scored his second goal of the game with about three minutes to play to secure the victory for the Beach.
Austin Stewart led the team with four goals scored on four shots. Duncan Lynde added a hat trick and was an offensive catalyst throughout the weekend.
Goalie Thomas Freeman recorded eight saves.
The win gave Long Beach State a third place finish at the Golden Coast Conference Tournament. The Beach ended 2016 with a 16-9 overall record and a 3-2 mark in GCC play during the regular season.
Long Beach State -- 3, 5, 3, 1 | 12
UC Santa Barbara -- 3, 4, 2, 1 | 10
Goals:
Long Beach State: Stewart 4, Lynde 3, Holden 2, Stevenson 2, McConnell
UC Santa Barbara: Hamilton 2, Alkateb, Buljan, Cotterill, Hauschild, Jensen, Likins, Martinho, Wilde
Saves:
Long Beach State: Freeman 8
UC Santa Barbara: Lenihan 9
Players Mentioned
