Gauchos Fall to USC 13-6 on Senior Day
UC Santa Barbara men's water polo lost to No. 4 USC at home on Saturday, closing its final home game of the 2026 season.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Volleyball
UC Santa Barbara men's water polo lost 13-6 to USC on Saturday in its final home game of 2026, held on Senior Day before a capacity crowd. Wyatt Pieretti recorded 12 saves as the eighth-ranked Gauchos held USC to three second-quarter goals.
Why it matters
The loss to the fourth-ranked Trojans came in the final home stretch of the regular season for Santa Barbara. The team still has one regular-season game left, at Cal State Fullerton on Sunday.
The final score was 13-6, with USC scoring 5 goals in the first quarter and 3 in the second while UC Santa Barbara matched USC's three second-quarter goals. The Gauchos allowed fewer than half the 27 goals USC scored in their first meeting this year, though the stub does not say how the remaining schedule will affect the season outcome.
The players
UC Santa Barbara men's water polo
The Gauchos are the University of California, Santa Barbara's men's water polo program, ranked No. 8 nationally at the time of this match.
USC
The University of Southern California's men's water polo team, ranked No. 4 nationally, which won this match 13-6.
Wyatt Pieretti
A UC Santa Barbara goalkeeper who recorded 12 saves in his final home game.
The details
Luigi Canepa scored a five-meter penalty goal in the first quarter and combined with Hayden Tully and Genc on scoring runs in the second and third quarters. USC scored twice in the final minute of the third quarter, including one at the buzzer, and Thomas Colpo, a two-year player, received minutes on Senior Day.
Timeline
Saturday, November 7, 2026: UC Santa Barbara loses 13-6 to USC on Senior Day.
Sunday, November 8, 2026 at noon: UC Santa Barbara plays at Cal State Fullerton in its final regular-season game.
Season Trajectory
The loss to USC came in the final home stretch of the regular season, and the Gauchos now have one game left before the Big West Championship tournament. A win at Cal State Fullerton would earn Santa Barbara a share of the Big West regular-season title and a first-round bye in the tournament.
A win at Cal State Fullerton on Sunday would give Santa Barbara a share of The Big West Regular Season Championship and secure a first-round bye in the conference tournament. Fans can track the final game of the regular season, which is the last chance for the Gauchos to affect their tournament seeding.
The takeaway
The Gauchos held USC to three goals in the second quarter and got strong goalkeeping from Pieretti in the closing minutes, a sign of late-game resilience. Their remaining path runs through Cal State Fullerton on Sunday, where a win would sharpen their position in the Big West.
What happens next
UC Santa Barbara plays its final regular-season game at Cal State Fullerton on Sunday, November 8, 2026 at noon.
Further reading
For more local coverage, explore Volleyball on the Santa Barbara sports page.
