No. 7 UCSB fell short in its regular season water polo finale against No. 6 Long Beach State, losing 12-10 at Campus Pool.
It was the final home game for seniors Myles Christian and Brian Shoemaker.
Both UCSB (15-10, 1-7) and Long Beach State started fast. In the early moments of the game, Nick Tomasello scored a two-meter goal and Brian Shoemaker scored a 4:48 goal to put the Gauchos up 2-0. The 49ers answered back with three unanswered goals from Nolan McConnell, Nick Rascon and Spencer White to give them the 3-2 lead. UCSB regained the lead shortly after as Eric Van de Mortel netted a 1:42 goal and Tomasello scored his second goal of the game with 1:06 left in the opening period. With a goal from Milo Vrzic late in the period, the game was tied 4-4.
The second period was much like the first as the game continued to be very close. With a 7:21 goal from Nick Tomasello, his third goal of the match, and a 7:02 score from Milos Vrzic, the game was tied 5-5. Dimitrios Lappas of Long Beach (22-7, 4-4) gave the 49ers the 6-5 lead, but with 3:38 left in the half, Matt Gronow scored to tie the match 6-6. After the first half, the Gauchos had a 7-6 lead as Derek Shoemaker scored late in the period.
The third period was a total turnaround as UCSB was held scoreless in the entire period. Although with several key defensive stops, the Gauchos could not contain the 49ers offense as Long Beach scored three goals in the period from Nolan McConnell and two from Dan Matulis. Heading into the last period, the Gauchos faced a 9-7 deficit.
The 49ers scored three straight goals to open the period. Down 12-7 and with 1:50 left in the game, Derek Shoemaker finally ended UCSB’s scoreless drought. With a 1:12 goal and another late score from Matt Gronow, UCSB cut into the Long Beach lead, but ultimately fell to Long Beach State by the score of 12-10.
Leading the Gauchos’ offense was Gronow and Tomasello with each player having a hat trick. The offense got two goals from Derek Shoemaker and one goal apiece from Brian Shoemaker and Eric Van de Mortel.
In the last home match of his impressive career, Christian had a solid day in goal as he recorded 12 saves.
Next in line for UCSB is the MPSF Championships at USC on Friday.
