Friday, February 21
Irvine, Calif.
4:15 p.m.
Long Beach State University
9
at
12
UC Irvine
Photo by: John Fajardo
Long Beach State's Comeback Falls Short Against No. 6 UC Irvine
2/21/2020 8:29:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
Elena Kotanchyan and Orsi Hertzka both score four goals as No. 12 LBSU falls to UC Irvine.
IRVINE, Calif. — Elena Kotanchyan and Orsi Hertzka each scored four goals as No. 12 Long Beach State's comeback attempt fell short Friday afternoon as the Beach fell to No. 6 UC Irvine 12-9 to open Barbara Kalbus Invitational play.
Hertzka scored two of her four goals in the first quarter as the Beach tied UC Irvine 2-2 with 1:00 minute remaining in the period.
"I'm super proud of the team," associate head coach Shana Welch said. "They did everything we asked them to do. They came out here and they fought a good game."
The Anteaters (10-4) then scored two goals in the final minute to take a 4-2 lead after the first.
In the second quarter, Kotanchyan scored two goals as LBSU and UC Irvine each scored two goals.
Kotanchyan scored her final two goals in the third period as the Beach played UCI even with the Anteaters leading 8-6 heading into the final quarter.
UCI took the lead for good when Elena Flynn and Toni Shackelford scored back-to-back goals in the fourth quarter to take a 10-6 lead.
Hertzka cut the lead to 10-7 when she drilled a five-meter penalty shot with 5:14 remaining in the game.
Katie Dill into the action a minute later when she found the back of the cage to cut UCI's lead to 10-8.
UCI answered right back with goals from Sarah Nichols and Jessica to push the Anteaters lead back to four with 2:19 remaining. Tara Prentice led the way for UCI with three goals.
Hertzka scored LBSU's last goal of the contest on a five-meter penalty shot.
"There are some things we can fix moving into the games down the road," Welch said. "I think we learned a lot of things coming out of this. I'm extremely proud of them and they didn't quit, but this is definitely a game that we can compete with them."
The Beach will now face Loyola Marymount Saturday morning at 11:45 at Corona del Mar high school. It will mark the third time the two teams have faced each other in the first month of the season.
LBSU picked up wins over the Lions at the UCLA Mini tournament in January and at the Triton Invitational earlier this month.
"We wish we'd see a little more of a mix up with the teams," Welch said. "But this happens in our sport and sometimes we face teams three or four times a season. You just have to go into the game with the same mentality like it's the first time you're playing them."
Hertzka scored two of her four goals in the first quarter as the Beach tied UC Irvine 2-2 with 1:00 minute remaining in the period.
"I'm super proud of the team," associate head coach Shana Welch said. "They did everything we asked them to do. They came out here and they fought a good game."
The Anteaters (10-4) then scored two goals in the final minute to take a 4-2 lead after the first.
In the second quarter, Kotanchyan scored two goals as LBSU and UC Irvine each scored two goals.
Kotanchyan scored her final two goals in the third period as the Beach played UCI even with the Anteaters leading 8-6 heading into the final quarter.
UCI took the lead for good when Elena Flynn and Toni Shackelford scored back-to-back goals in the fourth quarter to take a 10-6 lead.
Hertzka cut the lead to 10-7 when she drilled a five-meter penalty shot with 5:14 remaining in the game.
Katie Dill into the action a minute later when she found the back of the cage to cut UCI's lead to 10-8.
UCI answered right back with goals from Sarah Nichols and Jessica to push the Anteaters lead back to four with 2:19 remaining. Tara Prentice led the way for UCI with three goals.
Hertzka scored LBSU's last goal of the contest on a five-meter penalty shot.
"There are some things we can fix moving into the games down the road," Welch said. "I think we learned a lot of things coming out of this. I'm extremely proud of them and they didn't quit, but this is definitely a game that we can compete with them."
The Beach will now face Loyola Marymount Saturday morning at 11:45 at Corona del Mar high school. It will mark the third time the two teams have faced each other in the first month of the season.
LBSU picked up wins over the Lions at the UCLA Mini tournament in January and at the Triton Invitational earlier this month.
"We wish we'd see a little more of a mix up with the teams," Welch said. "But this happens in our sport and sometimes we face teams three or four times a season. You just have to go into the game with the same mentality like it's the first time you're playing them."
Players Mentioned
Attacker
/ Women's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Women's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Women's Water PoloMWP vs. Pomona-Pitzer Highlights
Sunday, November 25
2018 Golden Coast Conference Champions
Sunday, November 18
LBSU Fast 5 Austin Stevenson
Wednesday, November 30
LBSU Fast 5 Jacob Fujioka
Wednesday, November 16
