No. 6 Long Beach State Falls to No. 12 Pacific

Friday, September 25

Long Beach, Calif.

7 p.m.

Long Beach State University

9-3

No. 12 Pacific

4-4

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Pacific	2	4	2	4	12
Long Beach State	3	3	3	2	11

9/25/2026 9:14:00 PM | Men's Water Polo

Box Score

Long Beach State held a two-goal lead in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough to defeat Pacific.

By: James Hanson, Assistant Director, Athletic Communications

LONG BEACH, Calif. – No. 6 Long Beach State held a late fourth quarter lead but couldn't hold on as the Beach fell 12-11 to No. 12 Pacific at the Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center on Friday night.

Pacific (4-4) got off to a quick start, scoring on a power play and adding another on even strength to take an early 2-0 advantage. Needing to respond, Long Beach State (9-3) answered in a convincing way as Gabi Acosta scored three-straight goals to secure his fourth hat trick of the year as he put Long Beach State in front 3-2 after the opening eight minutes.

The Tigers quickly tied things with a goal on their opening possession of the second quarter before scoring again on a 6-on-5 to regain the lead, 4-3. Trailing once again, Acosta netted his fourth goal thanks to a beautiful pass from Corbin Stanley, and Zalán Nagy added a goal of his own to put the Beach back on top, 5-4. Pacific and Long Beach State then traded goals as Stanley found the back of the net, and the teams headed into the break all square at 6-all.

Once again, Pacific scored to open a quarter as the Tigers took a 7-6 lead early in the third period. Still trailing by one, Stanley scored back-to-back goals to secure his hat trick and put the Beach in front 9-8 with two minutes left in the stanza. The teams remained scoreless with Long Beach taking its one goal advantage into the final period.

Pacific looked like they were set to tie the game after earning a penalty, but William Whitstone kept the momentum with the Beach as he came up with a crucial penalty save. Capitalizing on the stop, Olivér Sudár scored to give the Beach their first two-goal cushion of the night, 10-8. While the Tigers answered with a goal on their ensuing possession, Acosta tied his career-high with his fifth score as he extended Long Beach State's lead to 11-9 with 5:36 remaining.

From there, Pacific goalkeeper Gergely Kiss came up with save after save as the Tigers rattled off three-consecutive goals to take a 12-11 advantage with one minute left. Needing a score to tie the game, Federico Gulisano's attempt rattled off the cage, and Pacific secured the rebound and defeated Long Beach State.

OF NOTE

Gabi Acosta matched his career-best with five goals on Friday night.
Corbin Stanley netted three goals and dished out two assists as he collected his ninth hat trick of the season.
The Beach are now 53-45 all-time against the Tigers, and Pacific has won the last five meetings.

UP NEXT

Long Beach State remains at home for a top-10 matchup against No. 4 Fordham on Sunday afternoon. First sprint at the Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center is set for 12 p.m.