No. 6 Long Beach State Just Short In Loss To No. 4 Pacific

Sunday, September 25

Stanford, Calif.

12:20 p.m.

Long Beach State University

10-5

Pacific

13-2

Long Beach State

Pacific

Photo by: Stephanie Hang, @TheStephHang

10/8/2022 9:29:00 PM | Men's Water Polo

Box Score

Evan Cain and Rafael Real Vergara each scored three goals, but Long Beach State fell to the Tigers in a top of the standings Golden Coast Conference clash.

By: Roger Kirk, Associate Athletics Director, Communications & Broadcast

LONG BEACH, Calif. – In front of an electric crowd at the Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center Saturday night, No. 6 Long Beach State pulled to within one of No. 4 Pacific in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter, but the Beach couldn't get the stops they needed in a 15-12 loss to the Tigers in Golden Coast Conference action.

Nearly 600 fans were in attendance as the two teams picked to finish at the top of the Golden Coast Conference standings met up at the Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center, and were treated to a close match between the two highest ranked teams in the nation outside of the MPSF.

Pacific (16-3, 1-0 GCC) struck first with a pair of early goals and ultimately led throughout despite Long Beach State (12-6, 1-1 GCC) holding close throughout. Goals from Aaron Arias and Evan Cain brought the Beach level, but Pacific would again lead by two at the end of the first quarter, 5-3.

Cain struck again to cut the lead to one at 5-4, but ultimately the Tigers would still hold a two-goal edge at halftime after an even second quarter at 8-6. The Beach got on the board first in the third quarter, but Pacific had their best stretch of the game, pulling out in front by four at 12-8 on a goal from Jeremie Cote.

The Beach refused to quit. Rafael Real Vergara scored in the closing seconds of the third quarter to pull back a first goal, and then Cain and Connor Mannion scored the next two to pull the Beach within one at 12-11.

Pacific held the lead with a Djordje Stanic goal, but the Beach pulled to within one once again, as Vergara found the net on a power play to cut the lead to 13-12 with 3:37 to play. Stanic scored to extend the Tiger lead, however, and Pacific picked up a final goal while slowing the play down to hold on for the road win against Long Beach State.

With the loss, Long Beach State's seven-game conference winning streak is snapped, but the Beach will likely remain at No. 6 in next week's polls.

Long Beach State will hit the road for their final non-conference tournament of the season, heading to New England for four games as part of the Harvard Tournament starting on Saturday, October 15.