Men's Water Polo 11/20/2016 12:00:00 AM

49ers Take Third Place Game

STOCKTON, Calif. -- In a back-and-forth battle during the third place game of the 2016 Golden Coast Conference Men's Championships, third-seed Long Beach State got a key back-to-back goals in the third quarter to hold on to a 12-10 win over top-seed UC Santa Barbara Sunday afternoon.

Austin Stewart (SO/Upland, CA) led Long Beach State (16-9) with four goals and Duncan Lynde (JR/Laguna Beach, CA) added three. UCSB (18-8) had an even attack with nine players scoring the 10 goals with Mitchell Hamilton (SR/San Jose, CA) scoring a pair. Spencer Likins (SO/Dana Points, CA) had four points with a goal and three assists.

The two teams traded goals three times in the first three minutes. The Gauchos took the third lead change at 3-2 with a Hamilton goal 4:36 to play in the opening frame. From that point Long Beach State would tie the game only see the Gauchos take the lead back three more times, including an extra-man attack goal with 4:03 to play in the second quarter that made it 6-5.

The 49ers would finally get back-to-back goals to take the lead back for the fourth lead change of the day. Stevenson would score a 6-on-5 goal to tie it with 3:24 to play in the first half. It was followed by Stewart's goal that gave the 49ers the lead, 7-6, with 1:56 to play.

The fast-paced first half continued as both teams scored again to close the second half, including Lyde's goal with six seconds remaining to make it 8-7 at the half.

UCSB came out of the locker room and tied it at 8-8 with a goal by Hamilton just a minute into the third quarter.

Long Beach State then scored huge back-to-back goals to take a 10-8 lead, one they would not let go of. Nolan McConnell (SR/Laguna Beach, CA) scored what would be the game winner with 6:04 to play in the third and then Stewart made it 10-8 with 5:02 on the clock.

From there the teams traded goals to close the third quarter with Stewart giving LBSU the 11-9 lead. After 20 goals the first 24 minutes, the teams managed just a goal each as the 49ers claimed the win.