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SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Top-seed and seventh-ranked Pacific left little doubt in the title game of the 2022 Golden Coast Conference Men's Championship, defeating second-seed and sixth-ranked Long Beach State, 12-6, at UC Santa Barbara's campus pool on Sunday afternoon. With the win, the TIgers earn the GCC's automatic bid to the upcoming National Collegiate Men's Water Polo Championships.
GAME LINKS: Box Score | PHOTOS | 2022 Championships | 2022 Award Winners
The Tigers (21-6) claim their second tournament title since the GCC began in 2016, winning it in 2017. The script flipped from a year ago as the Beach (20-10) defeated Pacific in last year's title game. It is the final season of men's water polo within the Golden Coast Conference as all six institutions will go to different leagues in 2023.
Bogdan Djerkovic led all scorers with four goals and Matthew Hosmer had a five-point day with three goals and two assists. Jeremie Cote had three points (two goals, one assist) as did Reuel D'Souza (one goal, two assists). Rafael Real Vergara had two goals, but they came on 10 shots as the Tigers defense shutdown the Beach's offense. Pacific limited LBSU to just 20.7 percent shooting (6-for-29).
Djerkovic was named tournament MVP thanks to his eight goals in two games. He was joined on the All-Tournament team by teammates D'Souza and Djordje Stanic. The Beach's Vergara and Garrett Zaan were also named All-Tournament. They were joined by UC Santa Barbara's Tommy Hawkins and UC Irvine's Dylan Patist.
Pacific made an early statement and never looked back. The Tigers jumped out to a 4-0 lead and the lead never dropped below two. The Beach scored two goals at the end of the second quarter to close the lead to 5-3 heading into the lockerroom.
Coming out at halftime, the teams traded goals for the lead to sit at 6-3 then 6-4, 7-4 then 7-5, 8-5 then 8-6. It was an Evan Cain goal with 6:59 to play in the game that made it a two-goal game. Then it was all Pacific.
They closed the game with four straight goals for the final margin to win the title.
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