The No. 6 Long Beach State men’s water polo team defeated No. 16 UC San Diego Wednesday at the Canyonview Aquatic Center.
Early in the match, both teams were making offensive adjustments and at the end of the first period the 49ers and Tritons were tied 2-2.
The Tritons (9-6) jumped out to a 1-0 lead with 6:43 remaining in the first period after senior utility play Nassim Hmeidan scored.
LBSU answered back to tie the game after senior attacker Nolan McConnell connected with sophomore Chandler Kaltenbach for a goal.
In the last 2:30 of the period, both teams scored. After falling behind 2-1, sophomore defender Keegan Wicken tied the game.
The 49ers took a 5-3 heading into halftime after outscoring UCSD 3-1.
LBSU’s defense continued to play tenaciously as they took a 6-3 lead in the third period, after Wicken scored again for his second goal of the game.
Both teams exchanged goals in the final 1:11 of the third period with the 49ers holding onto a 8-4 lead.
The 49ers and Tritons scored two goals, but LBSU won the game 10-6.
The No. 6 49ers will continue their tough schedule as they take on another ranked opponent when they welcome No. 8 Pepperdine at Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center on Friday at 7 p.m.