CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | BOX SCORE | LBSU PRESSER | UCSD PRESSER
DAVIS, Calif. - The No. 5 seed Long Beach State is the victors of the 2024 Big West Men's Water Polo Championship after securing a 10-8 victory over the second-seeded UC San Diego Tritons on Sunday at Schaal Aquatics Center.
This is the third overall Big West Men's Water Polo Championship claimed by The Beach (1970, 1975), but the first since the conference reinstated the sport a year ago in 2023.
The Beach moves to 20-10 on the season and earns The Big West's automatic berth into the bracket for the 2024 Men's Water Polo National Collegiate Championship. LBSU will find out their first round opponent when the bracket is unveiled on Monday, Nov. 25 at 9 a.m. on ncaa.com.
The first period saw UCSD take a 4-2 lead, with Mason Presley scoring twice, including a goal just 25 seconds into the action. The Beach responded with a strong second period, holding the Tritons scoreless in the frame while scoring three unanswered goals of their own, including a strike from Caleb Francisco at 1:56, to take a 5-4 lead into the break.
In the third period, LBSU extended their lead to 7-5, with Harper Stewart scoring at 2:05. The Tritons narrowed the gap in the fourth period, but Kostantinos Kapragkos scored twice for LBSU, including a goal at 4:01, securing their win with a final score of 10-8. Overall, the Beach converted eight powerplay goas, while UCSD scored four goals during power plays off of 15 opportunities
The Beach featured Kapragkos led the Beach in scoring, netting three goals from five shots. Gabi Acosta also contributed significantly on offense with two goals from six attempts. Evan Cain displayed versatility with one goal and a team-high two assists, while also drawing two exclusions and blocking one shot. Bruno Chiappini excelled in playmaking, recording three assists.
Lastly, Aaron Wilson was a key defensive presence, making eight saves in goal. Wilson was named Championship Most Valuable Player for the efforts in goal as the Beach goalkeeper was a key anchor in the defensive finale as well as in the first two victorious efforts.
For the Tritons, Landon Akerstrom led UCSD with two goals and also contributed significantly in sprint wins, securing two. Presley matched Akerstrom with two goals, achieving a perfect shooting percentage in the game, with Mark Laurlund recording a team-high two assists. In goal, Logan Estes finished with nine saves.
The Tritons cap the season at 17-12.
Gallery: (11-24-2024) 24 MWP: No. 5 LBSU vs No. 2 UCSD