UCLA
Long Beach State (Semifinal)
No. 1 UCLA Falls at MPSF Tournament Host No. 4 LBSU, 5-3
November 22, 2014 | Men's Water Polo
LONG BEACH, Calif. -- The No. 1 UCLA men's water polo team (26-3, 8-0 MPSF) fell to MPSF Tournament hosts No. 4 Long Beach State (22-6, 6-3 MPSF), 5-3 in the semifinals on Saturday afternoon at LBSU's Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center. It marked the first loss by the Bruins away from home all season (9-0 neutral, 8-1 road).
The three goals were the fewest in the Adam Wright era (since 2009) and were the fewest by UCLA in over six years, dating back to a 6-3 loss at USC on Nov. 1, 2008.
Long Beach State got on the board first off a drive and finish by Nick Rascon (5:45). Redshirt freshman Matt Farmer tied it at 1-1 with a power play goal (4:56). Zacchary Kappos gave the 49ers a 2-1 lead to end the scoring in the first (0:38) with a penalty shot.
Devin Mefford gave The Beach a 3-1 lead with a rebound goal off a 49er miss on a 6-on-5 opportunity (4:48) to open the scoring in the second. But sophomore Ryder Roberts would convert a penalty shot to make it 3-2 (1:06), a score that would hold to the break.
Kappos added another penalty score with 5:51 left in the third to put LBSU up 4-2. Roberts would answer with an exclusion goal to pull UCLA to within one at 4-3 (5:15) to end the scoring in the third.
There was only one goal by LBSU in the fourth as Dimitrious Lappas scored with 2:10 remaining to provide the 5-3 final. It was the first time in 2014 the Bruins failed to score in the fourth quarter.
Sophomore Garrett Danner started in goal for the Bruins and played the entire game, registering 12 saves, while surrendering five goals.
UCLA was a paltry 2-for-15 on power plays while LBSU didn't fare much better at 1-for-8. The 49ers did go 2-for-2 on penalty shots while UCLA went 1-for-1.
The Bruins are relegated to the third-place match for the second year in a row, needing a win to impress the NCAA Tournament Committee. UCLA will play No. 3 USC on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
No. 1 UCLA at No. 4 Long Beach State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| No. 1 UCLA | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| No. 4 LBSU | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
UCLA Goals: Ryder Roberts 2, Matt Farmer
UCLA Saves: Garrett Danner 12
LBSU Goals: Zacchary Kappos 2, Nick Rascon, Dimitrious Lappas, Devin Mefford
Players Mentioned
