IRVINE, Calif. — Trailing for most of the game, UC Irvine's Ryan Warde scored with 33 seconds remaining and goalie Matej Matijevic made a key save in the final seconds to lift the Anteaters to a 9-8 win over Long Beach State at the Golden Coast Conference Men's Water Polo Championships on Saturday.

BOX SCORE | GCC CHAMPIONSHIPS CENTRAL

The seventh-ranked Anteaters (15-9) outscored the sixth-ranked 49ers 4-1 in the final quarter to erase a pair of three-goal deficits. Jack Trush led all scorers with three goals as UC Irvine advances to the GCC title game on Sunday at 5 pm.

Thomas Freeman led Long Beach State with 15 saves.

The 49ers jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead and held advantages of 5-2 and 6-3. Duncan Lynde's goal with 10 seconds left in the third quarter gave Long Beach State a 7-5 lead entering the fourth quarter.

UC Irvine scored three straight to start the fourth quarter to take their first lead of the game. Lovre Milos cut the lead to 7-6 with 5:24 remaining and Brendan Duffy tied it, 7-7, with 3:46 to play.

The Anteaters first lead would come with 2:35 remaining as Bryant Joudrie scored on a 6-on-5 opportunity to give UCI an 8-7 lead.

It was short lived as Nemanja Bakic scored for the 49ers with 1:14 to play, knotting the score at 8-8.

The Anteaters would then draw an exclusion to set-up Warde's winner. The Beach would draw an exclusion with 21 seconds left but Matijevic made his 10th a final save of the game.

Long Beach State will play in the third place game at 3 pm.