IRVINE, Calif.

- The 7th-ranked UC San Diego men's water polo team won both of its matches on Sunday at the Southern California Invitational hosted by UC Irvine. The Tritons defeated 6th-ranked Long Beach State 11-10 on Jonathan Hopkins' sixth goal of the game, 23 seconds into the sudden death overtime. With the win, the Tritons advanced to take on 5th-ranked Pepperdine. UCSD used a strong third period to take a two goal lead over the Waves and would hang on in the final period for the 10-9 win. Ty Lackey netted three goals in the win. UCSD improves to 11-2, with a record of 4-0 in games decided by one goal or less.

Against LBSU, Hopkins scored six goals while Brandon Borso added two. Chris Finegold, Lackey and Adnan Jerkovic also scored. Hopkins scored his sixth goal of the game 23 seconds into sudden-victory overtime lifting UC San Diego over Long Beach State 11-10. An extra-man goal by the 49ers' Brad Scoles with 1:49 left in regulation had given Long Beach State a 9-7 lead, but Hopkins scored at 1:38 and Lackey tied the game on a goal with 55 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Hopkins gave UCSD a 10-9 lead on a goal with 1:39 left in the first overtime period and Jay Gerardi scored for the 49ers with 44 seconds remaining in the second extra period before the game went into sudden victory.

Lackey scored three goals for UCSD as the Tritons claimed fifth place in the tournament with the win over No. 5 Peperdine. UCSD led 10-7 late in the fourth quarter before the Waves' Matt MacDonell (2:08) and Matt Digges (1:24) scored to tighten the end. Travis Boettner and Jerkovic scored two goals apiece for UCSD and Pepperdine's Jesse Smith led all scorers with four.

UCSD goalie Colin McElroy saved 16 shots combined in the two wins.

UCSD is back in action on Friday September 23 when it hosts LMU at 6:00 pm in Canyonview Pool.