San Diego, CA - May 18 - The 2026 Men's Senior Nationals concluded at UCSD Canyonview Aquatic Center in San Diego, CA yesterday with New York Athletic Club A winning the championship. NYAC had a perfect 5-0 record on the weekend to claim the title. Los Angeles Athletic Club finished as the runner-up while The Olympic Club took home third place. For complete final standings and individual award winners, see below.
Final 2026 Men's Senior Nationals Standings
- New York Athletic Club A
- Los Angeles Athletic Club
- The Olympic Club
- USA Youth
- Riptide
- Anteater
- NYAC B
- Channel Islands United
- Alumni
- USA B
- UC San Diego
Individual Award Winners
MVP: Marko Vavic, New York Athletic Club A
Top Goalkeeper: Chris Whitelegge, New York Athletic Club A
New York Athletic Club A Holds Off Los Angeles Athletic Club: New York Athletic Club A swept its weekend slate to become 2026 Men's Senior Nationals champions. NYAC squared off against Los Angeles Athletic Club in the championship game yesterday at UCSD Canyonview Aquatic Center.
NYAC struck first in the opening quarter when Alex Gheorghe muscled one home just over one minute into the contest. LAAC responded early with a trio of consecutive goals from Gabi Acosta, Beso Akhvlediani, and Gray Carson to hold a 3-1 lead after one. Midway through the second, Acosta scored again to widen LAAC's lead before Ryan Ohl got one back for NYAC. After Chase Dodd earned a penalty, Botond Balogh stepped up to convert the five meter attempt for LAAC. With the game seemingly hanging in the balance, NYAC scored back-to-back goals to close the half when Ben Forer and Marko Vavic each rang the register to pull within one, 5-4, at the break.
Following intermission, Gianpiero Di Martire tied the game to start what would be the best quarter of the game for NYAC. Balogh recorded a hat trick for LAAC with two more goals in the third but Massimo Di Martire and Gheorghe scored to tie things up before Forer ended the frame with a skillful lob shot to push NYAC in front, 8-7. In the fourth, Vavic and Akhvlediani traded scores before AJ Rossman and Acosta did the same. From there, Marcell Szecsi and Vavic put home a pair of goals to push the NYAC advantage to three. LAAC would not go quietly as Bryce Hoerman and Carson each scored late but it was not enough to catch NYAC who prevailed with the 12-11 victory.
New York Athletic Club was led by Olympic bronze medalist Marko Vavic with three goals while Forer and Gheorghe each chipped in two. LAAC got three goals each from Acosta and Balogh.
The Olympic Club Dominates USA Youth For 3rd: The Olympic Club dominated USA Youth in the third place game to claim the bronze medal.
USA Youth started strong in this one as Tyler Anderson and Lucas Ruano quickly opened up a two-goal lead. The Olympic Club responded with two of its own from Soren Jensen and Tyler Abramson to level the score. Then it was Wyatt Williamson who scored for USA Youth before Olympic Club pushed across three goals from Ethan Parrish, Riley Pittman, and Paul Reynolds for a 5-3 edge after one. Colin Mulcahy continued where Reynolds left off to begin the second and then Jackson Shaw broke an eight-minute USA Youth scoring drought. Mulcahy scored again prior to Kai Kaneko converting a penalty shot to pull USA Youth within two, 7-5, at the half.
The Olympic Club turned up its intensity in the second half to put the game away. Six third quarter goals from Jackson Kimbell, Quinn Woodhead (2), Abramson, and Jensen (2) paced Olympic Club opposite a single goal for USA Youth from Dexter Black to leave the score at 13-6 after three. The final frame nearly mimicked the third as Olympic Club scored six again and USA Youth mustered just two. Dylan Woodhead, Connor Stapleton, Quinn Woodhead, George Avakian, Pittman, and Reynolds each scored in the fourth for a balanced attack as Kaneko and Sungwon Shin put home the two for USA Youth, leaving The Olympic Club with a 19-8 victory.
The Olympic Club was led by Soren Jensen and Quinn Woodhead with three goals each. Kai Kaneko scored twice for USA Youth while Tyler Anderson earned seven exclusions.
Video Highlights: Overnght Media was on site this weekend in San Diego to stream Men's Senior Nationals. Highlights from some of those matches will be available soon.
