UCSB Water Polo has fun Beach day in upset win

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) - The Gauchos got defensive in a 13-8 upset win over #9 Long Beach State in Big West men's water polo.

Former Santa Barbara High School standout goalie Wyatt Pieretti made 8 saves and even scored a late goal to put the cherry on top of a great afternoon for #12 UCSB.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xlPgB4_LIY

"We were trying to wear them down, counter them and everything worked," began UCSB head coach Wolf Wigo. "Some days things don't work and some days things work, so it's nice to have a day where it's clicking, everyone's playing great defense. We had some good shots too, so fun day, fun day, alumni weekend, always good to win with the alumni here."

It was also the Nick Johnson Memorial Match and the late Johnson would have been proud as UCSB delivered his signature 110 percent effort on defense to shut down a very talented Long Beach State team.

Offensively UCSB was led by freshman star Luigi Canepa who scored a game-high 4 goals while fellow freshman Dash D' Ambrosia added three goals.

After the game was tied at 2 after the first quarter the Gauchos opened up a 6-3 at half.

Finn Genc scored with just 11 seconds left in the half to give UCSB a 3 goal advantage at the half.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbwFMwokC14

The Beach pulled within 7-5 heading into the fourth quarter.

But UCSB had the finishing touch outscoring the Beach 6-3 the rest of the way.

D'Ambrosia scored the first two goals of the quarter to give the Gauchos some breathing room.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnefFXORc8o

Canepa added his 4th goal of the game to make it 11-6 with just 2:29 to go.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkOzzCRJBzM

LBSU pulled the goalie for an extra attacker but Pieretti first made the save and then with no one in the cage for the Beach, Pieretti launched his shot the length of the pool for the goal that set off a big celebration for the team and fans.

UCSB is one of 4 teams that are on top of the Big West standings at 2-1.