Long Beach State Wins Overtime Thriller Against UC San Diego

Sunday, September 20

Stanford, Calif.

11 a.m.

Long Beach State University

9-2

UC San Diego

9-3

Team	1	2	3	4	OT	OT	SD	Final F
UC San Diego	6	2	2	3	2	1	0	16
Long Beach State	3	3	4	3	2	1	1	17

Long Beach State Wins Overtime Thriller Against UC San Diego

9/20/2026 2:50:00 PM | Men's Water Polo

Box Score

Gabi Acosta had the game-winner while Federico Gulisano scored seven goals for the Beach.

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

STANFORD, Calif. – No. 6 Men's Water Polo fell behind early against UC San Diego, but rallied back in an instant classic as the Beach dropped the Tritons with a Gabi Acosta sudden victory goal to win 17-16 and claim fifth place at the MPSF Invite.

UC San Diego (9-3) got off to a quick start, however, jumping out to a 2-0 lead after the first 70 seconds and scoring a third before the Beach could get on the board. The hot start for the Tritons continued, and UCSD led Long Beach State (9-2) 6-3 at the end of the first quarter.

The Beach were able to slow down the Triton offense as Sergi Ramon came on in goal, making 15 saves the rest of the way as the Beach started to chip away. Cutting the lead to one at 6-5 on a goal from Corbin Stanley, the Tritons had a rally of their own to push out to an 8-5 lead before holding on to an 8-6 lead at the half.

Long Beach State finally climbed all the way back to tie the game at 9-9 on a Keegan Moore goal, and took their first lead of the contest at 10-9, but a Reef Lippa goal kept the game tied at the end of the third.

The teams traded leads through the fourth quarter, but a Jack Wright goal for UC San Diego sent the game to overtime. Still tied after the first three minutes, Harper Stewart broke through for the lead for LBSU, but a Christian Hammonds goal with 32 seconds to play sent the game to sudden victory.

The game looked to be headed for an eighth period as the minutes slipped away, but a final shot from the Beach rebounded off the cage to a well-positioned Acosta, who buried the rebound with five seconds left in the first sudden death period to claim the win for the Beach, who wrapped up fifth-place in the tournament with the victory.

Long Beach State now returns home for two key non-conference games, hosting No. 10 Pacific and No. 5 Fordham at the Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center next week. The Tigers are up first at 7 p.m. on Friday, September 25.