IRVINE, Calif.----- Laszlo Szieben scored once in each half for San Jose State University, but Long Beach State kept the rest of the Spartan men's water polo lineup in check in an 8-4 win in a Golden Coast Conference (GCC) tournament semifinal match.
San Jose State (16-15) finished 2021 with its most wins, its first winning record, and first semifinal round conference championship appearance since the program was reinstated in 2015. Long Beach State (21-5) advances to the GCC championship match against Pacific on November 21.
Szieben's first goal came on a power play at 7:30 of the second quarter to the score at 1-1. San Jose State never led and trailed 3-1 at halftime after a pair of 49ers goals to close out the second quarter.
San Jose State stayed within two goals most of the second half, but could get no closer. Neil Arnett's power play goal with 0:09 to go in the third quarter pulled the Spartans to a 4-2 deficit. Gal Haimovich and Szieben scored in the fourth quarter leaving San Jose State behind 6-4 with 4:25 remaining in regulation.
The Spartans were thwarted by a pressing Long Beach State defense and goalkeeper Andrej Bosanac who was credited with 11 saves. For the 49ers, it was their third win of the season over the Spartans without a loss and the eighth time limiting an opponent to five goals or less.
Yahav Fire matched Bosanac in the save tally with 11 for San José State.
San Jose State University men's water polo
No.4-seed San Jose State vs. No.1-seed Long Beach State
Anteater Aquatics Complex, Irvine, Calif.
November 20, 2021
Golden Coast Conference Tournament - Semifinal #2
| Score By Quarters | Total | |
| San Jose State (16-14) | 0-1-1-2 | 4 |
| Long Beach State (21-5) | 1-2-1-4 | 8 |
| Goal Scoring |
| San Jose State - Laszlo Szieben, 2; Neil Arnett, Gal Haimovich, 1, each. |
| Long Beach State - Evan Cain, Alika Naone, Rafael Real Vergara, 2, each; Garrett Zaan, Matt Morris, 1, each. |
| Goalkeeper Saves |
| San Jose State - Yahav Fire, 11. |
| Long Beach State - Andrej Bosanac - 11. |
| Ejections |
| San Jose State - 6 |
| Long Beach State - 10 |