California Baptist University
22-8, 2-2
Long Beach State University
15-7, 1-2
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | OT | SD | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Beach State | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 18 |
| California Baptist | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 19 |
10/31/2026 2:43:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University men's water polo treated its fans to a sudden-death roller coaster conference showdown on Saturday afternoon as they defeated Long Beach State on a golden goal from Michael Abshier, 19-18, at the Lancer Aquatics Center.
The win was the first overtime game of the season for the Lancers and was, of course, the first golden-goal situation CBU has been in this season. The Lancers' win puts them in a tie for first place in the Big West standings with UCSB and UCSD at 3-1 and was the first win over Long Beach State in program history. CBU is now 23-8 overall this season with two games left on the schedule.
The roller coaster affair started from the jump, as neither would lead by more than two goals at any point in the match. The Beach had the largest lead by any team early in the first period as they started off on a 3-1 run. CBU would close the gap and take its first lead off a Michael Abshier goal with 6:07 remaining in the second period. LBSU took the lead right back off a 3-0 run that extended its lead back to two goals. A penalty goal by Andrea Nuzzo would knot the game at nine apiece as the match headed into halftime.
The third period would produce another draw as both squads scored three goals, leaving the score tied 12-12 heading into the fourth period. The two teams went back and forth in the fourth period, with each team answering the other's goals. With 1:58 remaining, Long Beach scored a goal to take the lead at 15-14, forcing CBU to call a timeout. With 24 seconds remaining, Whitley Beamon would find the back of the net to send the game into overtime.
CBU dominated the first three-minute overtime period as they got goals from Paulo Hernandez and another from Abshier as the clock expired to lead 17-15 heading into the second OT frame. It was the opposite result in the second OT period as Long Beach State would score twice to send the match to a tense sudden-death scenario. In sudden death, the Beach won the opening sprint on a jump ball, but the Lancer defense would hold strong as Beamon would get the steal before the shot clock expired. Nuzzo moved the ball back quickly in transition and got the ball up the pool, where the Lancers went to Beamon, who found Abshier for the game-winning shot to end the match at 19-18.
Abshier not only scored the game-winner but also led the way with four goals and four assists, as well as two steals. Nuzzo was his usual self with three goals and three assists, and Beamon also had a similar stat line with six points. Hernandez would record the other hat trick for the Lancers with three goals on four shots.
"Lots of ups and downs in this one," reflected Head Coach Kevin Rosa after the win. For us to be able to finish it off like that, and Mikey stepping up in that moment, puts us in a good position heading into next week."
The win now sets up an intriguing matchup with UCSD next week in Riverside, with the winner guaranteeing themselves at least a share of the Big West Regular Season title and a first-round bye in the tournament.
NEXT: CBU will host UCSD on Friday, November 6, at 5 PM at the Lancer Aquatics Center.
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
Corbin Stanley
7:16
Whitley Beamon
6:10
Corbin Stanley
5:51
Oliver Sudar
3:23
Collin White
2:58
Sawyer McCormick
2:07
Zalan Nagy
1:44
Federico Gulisano
0:57
Paulo Hernandez
0:06
Andrea Nuzzo
7:08
Michael Abshier
6:07
Oliver Sudar
5:45
Marc Frigola
4:59
Zalan Nagy
4:10
Michael Abshier
3:05
Luca Imbriolo
2:15
Oliver Sudar
1:44
Andrea Nuzzo
1:29
Chase Krupitzer
7:16
Andrea Nuzzo
6:40
Wyatt Bugbee
6:02
Zalan Nagy
4:41
Paulo Hernandez
3:09
Chase Krupitzer
1:29
Oliver Sudar
4:39
Whitley Beamon
4:13
Zalan Nagy
2:51
Rafa Martinez
2:21
Federico Gulisano
1:58
Whitley Beamon
0:24
Paulo Hernandez
2:11
Michael Abshier
0:01
Oliver Sudar
2:22
Gabi Acosta
1:40
Luca Imbriolo
0:37
Gabi Acosta
0:07
Michael Abshier
2:06
