Long Beach State Defeats No. 19 Loyola Marymount

Saturday, April 10

Long Beach, Calif.

12:00 p.m.

Long Beach State University

1-6, 0-3

LMU

3-4, 3-3

Loyola Marymount

Long Beach State

Photo by: John Fajardo

4/10/2021 4:02:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

Box Score Photo Gallery

The Beach picks up first win of season, and Shana Welch picks up first win as head coach of women's water polo program.

Long Beach, Calif. — After falling behind 2-0 after the first quarter, No. 16 Long Beach State rallied to defeat No. 19 Loyola Marymount 8-6 Saturday afternoon at Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center.

Sarah Barker and Elena Kotanchyan each scored two goals as the Beach (1-6) was able to earn a hard-fought win against the Lions.

Along with the Beach picking up its first win of the season, Shana Welch recorded her first victory as the head coach of the LBSU women's water polo program.

"We say it's not about the wins and losses," Welch said. "It's great to get a win. This team deserved a win. They've been working hard, so I'm happy for them as a team and that's going to propel us through the next few weeks."

Welch is in her seventh season with the team and officially took over as head coach last June after serving as the associate head coach last season when the team went 12-6 before the season was canceled due to COVID-19.

Before Welch was the associate head coach she served as an assistant coach for five years.

After falling behind 2-0 in the first quarter, the Beach rallied after Sarah Barker scored to cut LMU's lead to one.

GOAL! Sarah Barker finds the back of the cage to cut LMU's lead to 2-1. #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/zpv4uxUYGQ
— LBSU Water Polo (@LBSUWaterPolo) April 10, 2021

Elena Kotanchyan didn't wait much longer as she scored 45 seconds later to knot the game at 2-2 with 4:27 remaining in the first half.

TIED UP! Elena Kotanchyan scores and the Beach ties it up, 2-2. pic.twitter.com/UcdjC85QXP
— LBSU Water Polo (@LBSUWaterPolo) April 10, 2021

LMU (3-4) answered right back after Ryan-Marie Ickes found the back of the cage to take a 3-2 lead.

The Beach wasn't done scoring though as Anne de Kleer scored to tie the game with 1:42 remaining in the first half.

Anne de Kleer scores and the Beach ties it up, 3-3. 1:52 left in the first half. pic.twitter.com/tHwCubhWow
— LBSU Water Polo (@LBSUWaterPolo) April 10, 2021

Rachel Kowalchick gave the Beach its first lead when she scored to give LBSU a 4-3 lead at halftime.

FOR THE LEAD! Rachel Kowalchick finds herself alone and lobs this one in. Beach leads 4-3. #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/s2bu2rAW6K
— LBSU Water Polo (@LBSUWaterPolo) April 10, 2021

The Lions tied the game early in the second half when was called for a penalty foul and Tara DeBrander connected on the five-meter penalty shot.

Barker's second goal of the day gave the Beach a 5-4 lead, but Ickes answered right back to tie the game.

Barker scores again! Long Beach State takes a 5-4 lead. #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/Lzx1rsJJe9
— LBSU Water Polo (@LBSUWaterPolo) April 10, 2021

Kotanchyan's second goal of the day gave the Beach the lead for good when she scored at the 5:06 mark of the third quarter to give LBSU a 6-5 lead.

Back and forth, Kotanchyan scores her second and the Beach leads 6-5. pic.twitter.com/CT3fYm3cOV
— LBSU Water Polo (@LBSUWaterPolo) April 10, 2021

Gabriella Matafora-Adams extended the Beach's lead to 7-5 when she skipped a shot passed the goalie for the goal.

Gabriella Matafora-Adams scores to give the Beach a 7-5 lead with 2:13 left in the third. pic.twitter.com/9wISVlhdGt
— LBSU Water Polo (@LBSUWaterPolo) April 10, 2021

Mariah Walker pushed the Beach's 8-6 when she muscled her way through a triple team.

GOAL! Mariah Walker scores to give the Beach an 8-6 lead in the fourth. #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/MNPOoG1mHe
— LBSU Water Polo (@LBSUWaterPolo) April 10, 2021

The Beach will be back in action when they host No. 8 UC San Diego next week.