Men’s Water Polo Closes Outstanding Season With NCAA Tournament Defeat

Friday, December 6

Stanford, Calif.

6 p.m.

Long Beach State University

20-11

Fordham

32-0

Long Beach State

Fordham

Photo by: Luiza Moraes

Men’s Water Polo Closes Outstanding Season With NCAA Tournament Defeat

12/6/2024 8:09:00 PM | Men's Water Polo

Box Score

Freshman Harper Stewart led the team on offense with a hat trick against the Rams.

By: Luiza Moraes - Athletics Communication Assistant

STANFORD, Calif. – Facing the No. 1 team in the country, Long Beach State's time at the NCAA Championship came to a close with a 16-11 defeat against Fordham in the quarterfinals. The Big West Champions were making their 14th appearance in the tournament and their first since 2021.

Fordham (32-0) started the game with intensity and got into the lead with two quick goals. Long Beach State (20-11) tied the game with back-to-back goals by freshman Harper Stewart and sophomore Caleb Francisco. Fordham netted one more before the quarter was over to take the lead one more time and head into the second quarter up 3-2.

Junior Itai Roth tied the game for the Beach early in the second quarter but two goals by the Rams got them back on the lead. Freshman Gabi Acosta added one to cut the lead to one. The Rams got on the board again before senior Evan Cain scored his first goal. A late goal by Fordham extended the lead by two before half.

An intense third quarter by the Rams got their advantage to six goals with the score ending 13-7. The Rams went on a three-goal run before junior Alec Johnson scored making 10-6. Stewart got one more on the board, but the Beach trailed 13-7 by the end of the third.

The last quarter of the match was controlled by the Rams with the Beach scoring late goals. Freshmen Artur Diaz, Kostantinos Kapragkos, Corbin Stanley and Stewart all added goals in the quarter but wasn't enough to close the gap and dropping the contest 16-11.

The Beach closes their 2024 campaign as the Big West Champions and with a 20-11 record. Long Beach State was led by freshman Gabi Acosta leading the team with 64 goals and named conference Player and Freshman of the Year.