Saturday, April 29
Santa Barbara, Calif.
1 p.m.
Long Beach State University
18-8
12
vs
13
Hawai'i
21-5
1
2
3
4
F
Long Beach State
3
3
3
3
12
Hawai'i
5
1
4
3
13
Photo by: John Fajardo
Long Beach State Falls to Hawai’i in Big West Championship Semifinal Thriller
4/29/2023 3:17:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
Long Beach State fought until the end, but fell 13-12.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.-- The women's water polo team fought hard from start to finish, but ultimately fell to Hawai'i in a 13-12 loss on Saturday in the Big West Championship semifinals at Santa Barbara. Rachael Kowalchick led the way for Long Beach State in the back-and-forth contest with 3 goals, and Chelsea Oliver recorded double-digit saves for the second game in a row.
The Beach started the game as the aggressor with Jamie Oberman and Elisa Portillo scoring early goals to give Long Beach State a 2-0 lead. Hawai'i would bounce back with two goals of their own to level the score, but Gabriella Matafora-Adams would net a third goal for the Beach to restore their lead. However, the Rainbow Wahine would end the quarter with three straight goals to lead 5-3 after the first period.
Hawai'i would extend their lead with an early goal in the second quarter, but Long Beach State would respond with a run of their own. The Beach scored three straight goals to level the score 6-6 at halftime.
The Rainbow Wahine jumped out to a two-goal lead early in the third quarter. Lara Luka scored a goal to bring the Beach within one, but the two teams traded goals the rest of the way. In the final seconds of the game, Matafora-Adams had a skip shot that looked to be headed to the upper-right corner of the cage, but the Hawai'i goalkeeper was there to knock it down, holding onto their 13-12 lead.
Rachael Kowalchick's three goals led the Beach and extended her total to 52 goals this season. Martina Cardona, Lara Luka, and Gabriella Matafora-Adams each scored two goals, with Jamie Oberman, Elisa Portillo, and Mariah Walker scoring one. Chelsea Oliver once again had a solid performance, as she recorded 10 saves including some crucial stops on Hawai'i powerplays.
Despite the loss, this season was successful for Long Beach State. The Beach finished with 18 wins for the 8thtime in program history. Freshman Elisa Portillo finished the season with a team-leading 55 goals, while sophomore Martina Cardona led the team in assists with 24. Gabriella Matafora-Adams finished her final season at Long Beach State with 34 goals and 17 assists. She finishes her career with a total of 67 assists which puts her at fourth all-time in program history.
The Beach started the game as the aggressor with Jamie Oberman and Elisa Portillo scoring early goals to give Long Beach State a 2-0 lead. Hawai'i would bounce back with two goals of their own to level the score, but Gabriella Matafora-Adams would net a third goal for the Beach to restore their lead. However, the Rainbow Wahine would end the quarter with three straight goals to lead 5-3 after the first period.
Hawai'i would extend their lead with an early goal in the second quarter, but Long Beach State would respond with a run of their own. The Beach scored three straight goals to level the score 6-6 at halftime.
The Rainbow Wahine jumped out to a two-goal lead early in the third quarter. Lara Luka scored a goal to bring the Beach within one, but the two teams traded goals the rest of the way. In the final seconds of the game, Matafora-Adams had a skip shot that looked to be headed to the upper-right corner of the cage, but the Hawai'i goalkeeper was there to knock it down, holding onto their 13-12 lead.
Rachael Kowalchick's three goals led the Beach and extended her total to 52 goals this season. Martina Cardona, Lara Luka, and Gabriella Matafora-Adams each scored two goals, with Jamie Oberman, Elisa Portillo, and Mariah Walker scoring one. Chelsea Oliver once again had a solid performance, as she recorded 10 saves including some crucial stops on Hawai'i powerplays.
Despite the loss, this season was successful for Long Beach State. The Beach finished with 18 wins for the 8thtime in program history. Freshman Elisa Portillo finished the season with a team-leading 55 goals, while sophomore Martina Cardona led the team in assists with 24. Gabriella Matafora-Adams finished her final season at Long Beach State with 34 goals and 17 assists. She finishes her career with a total of 67 assists which puts her at fourth all-time in program history.
Team Stats
LBSU
HAW
Shots
34
30
Goals
12
13
Assists
7
9
Points
19
22
Exclusions
11
7
Steals
3
5
Sprints
3
1
1
Jamie Oberman
7:36
Elisa Portillo
6:59
Emma van Rossum
6:34
Olivia Kistler
4:10
Gabriella Matafora-Adams
2:37
Alba Bonamusa Boix
2:07
Bia Mantellato Dias
1:30
Lot Stertefeld
0:49
2
Lot Stertefeld
6:01
Rachael Kowalchick
5:14
Rachael Kowalchick
2:07
Mariah Walker
1:24
3
Alba Bonamusa Boix
7:12
Bia Mantellato Dias
6:29
Lara Luka
6:03
Lot Stertefeld
5:00
Gabriella Matafora-Adams
3:38
Emma van Rossum
1:37
Martina Cardona
0:13
4
Lot Stertefeld
6:32
Alba Bonamusa Boix
5:28
Martina Cardona
5:07
Lara Luka
2:44
Alba Bonamusa Boix
2:21
Rachael Kowalchick
2:04
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
6
Goals
3
Assists
0
Points
3
Shots
5
Goals
2
Assists
2
Points
4
Shots
5
Goals
1
Assists
0
Points
1
Players Mentioned
Attacker
/ Women's Water PoloAttacker
/ Women's Water PoloAttacker
/ Women's Water PoloDefender
/ Women's Water Polo
Goalie
/ Women's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Women's Water Polo
Center
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