Men’s Water Polo Suffers First Loss To No. 2 USC

Friday, September 4

Long Beach, Calif.

7 p.m.

Long Beach State University

6-1

USC

5-0

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Southern California	5	4	4	4	17
Long Beach State	1	6	3	1	11

9/4/2026 9:17:00 PM | Men's Water Polo

Box Score

Long Beach State pushed the Trojans in the first half, but USC pulled away late for the win.

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

LONG BEACH, Calif. – In front of a great crowd, No. 7 Long Beach State battled back against No. 2 USC, but the Trojans ultimately had too much firepower and took down the Beach 17-11.

Long Beach State (6-1) made their return to the Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center as a crowd of over 800 came to see the team return to their home pool. No. 2 USC (5-0) had the early momentum, however, scoring three goals to take an early 3-1 lead, and the Trojans led 5-1 after the first quarter.

The Beach rallied back in the second quarter. Down 8-3, quick goals from Harper Stewart and Federico Gulisano ignited the crowd, and the Beach pulled to within two at 8-6 after a Marc Frigola Goal marked three unanswered for LBSU. The Trojans found an answer from Strahinja Krstic, but Gulisano scored once again in the final seconds of the half, and the Beach trailed by just two at halftime 9-7.

USC scored the first two goals of the third quarter, though the Beach kept pace behind goals from Gulisano and Stewart, but a goal with seven seconds in the quarter from Efe Naipoglu extended the lead to three for the Trojans. Two more goals to start the fourth quarter put the lead out of reach for LBSU who fell for the first time on the year 17-11.

Gulisano matched Naipoglu for the game lead, with each scoring 5 goals. William Whitstone had 10 saves in goal for Long Beach State, and made a pair of assists as well for the Beach.

Fans are welcome to join the Beach at the Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center once again on Saturday, as the Beach hosts Golden West College and Orange Coast College prior to their annual alumni game. The action begins at 10 a.m.