Long Beach State Defeats UCSB 11-9 For Third Conference Win

Saturday, October 25

LBCC Aquatics Complex

7 p.m.

Long Beach State University

UC Santa Barbara

Long Beach State

10/25/2025 9:23:00 PM | Men's Water Polo

Box Score

Gabi Acosta and Caleb Francisco combine for seven goals to lead the Beach offense.

By: Luiza Moraes - Athletic Communication Assistant

LONG BEACH, Calif. – No. 11 Men's Water Polo continued their perfect run in Big West play after defeating No. 13 UC Santa Barbara 11-9 at home for its third conference win, shutting down the Gauchos in the second half behind eight saves from backup goalie Joe Jenness.

UC Santa Barbara (15-12, 1-2 Big West) got off to a quick start, scoring two goals to take an early lead. Long Beach State (13-8, 3-0 Big West) tied the game behind goals from Gabi Acosta and Konstantinos Kapragkos, but the Gauchos edged the Beach in the first, leading 3-2 after the opening eight minutes.

A lob from junior Marc Frigola tied the game early in the second, but back-to-back goals from Brock Zamanian opened a two-goal lead for UCSB with 5:05 left in the quarter. Caleb Francisco tied it for the Beach with two quick goals, but once again the Gauchos took the lead at halftime, 6-5.

Tied at seven in the third quarter, the Beach took the lead after goals from Acosta and Alec Johnson to go up 9-7 with one quarter left to play. A penalty goal by the Gauchos cut the lead, but Francisco's hat trick kept a two-goal lead for LBSU. Acosta scored his fourth of the day as the Beach led 11-8 with two minutes left in the game. Zamanian scored one for UCSB, but a solid game by Joe Jenness gave Long Beach their third conference win.

Acosta led all scorers with four goals while Francisco recorded a hat trick to lead the Beach offense. Joe Jenness added eight stops while William Whitstone recorded four in the first half.

Long Beach State will now face UC Irvine in a Black and Blue Rivalry matchup on October 30 at 6 p.m., with live stats available through TheFOSH.net.