Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State University
0-1, 0-1
UC Irvine
8-3, 1-0
No. 16 Long Beach State Falls To No. 5 UC Irvine
3/20/2021 3:19:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
The Beach couldn't overcome cold shooting day in season opener.
IRVINE, Calif. — On the road to open the 2021 season, the No. 16 Long Beach State women's water polo team wasn't able to take advantage of opportunities as the Beach fell to No. 5 UC Irvine, 10-2 Saturday at Anteater Aquatics Complex.
In a renewal of the Black and Blue rivalry, the Beach (0-1, 0-1) went 1-8 on power play opportunities and the Anteaters (8-3, 1-0) took full advantage of LBSU's cold hand as they took a 2-0 lead after the first quarter.
It was a scoreless game until the 2:48 mark of the opening period when Calysa Toledo converted a penalty shot to take the early 1-0 lead.
The Beach couldn't convert on two powe rplays in the second quarter as UCI extended their lead to 5-0 at halftime.
The Anteaters took a 6-0 lead in the third quarter before Anne de Kleer got the Beach on the board with a rebound skimmer at the 3:49 mark in the period.
After de Kleer's goal, the Anteaters scored twice before Sarah Barker found the back of the cage on a skip shot during a powerplay to cut UC Irvine's lead to 8-2.
Sarah Barker finds the back of the cage on this skipper. The Beach cuts the lead to 8-2. #GoBeach | #LBNation pic.twitter.com/kLeJsAnQSH
— LBSU Water Polo (@LBSUWaterPolo) March 20, 2021
Megan Falcon had a game-high three goals for UCI.
The Beach will host UC Irvine Sunday at Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center to wrap up their home-and-home series against the Anteaters.
Team Stats
Calysa Toledo
2:48
Megan Falcon
0:45
Kili Skibby
6:11
Toni Shackelford
3:01
Megan Falcon
0:56
Piper Smith
7:04
Anne de Kleer
3:49
Danielle Ayala
7:35
Megan Falcon
6:18
Sarah Barker
3:59
Jessica Newell
3:33
Kili Skibby
0:23
