Women’s Water Polo Defeats San Diego State On Day 1 Of The Triton Invite

Friday, January 31

La Jolla, Calif.

5:20 p.m.

Long Beach State University

San Diego State

Long Beach State

Photo by: Luiza Moraes

Women’s Water Polo Defeats San Diego State On Day 1 Of The Triton Invite

1/31/2025 8:11:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

Box Score

The Beach will face UC Irvine for a spot in the semifinals to start Saturday’s action.

By: Luiza Moraes - Athletic Communication Assistant

LA JOLLA, Calif. – Freshman Jermonie Billingsly tied her career-high of four goals to lead No. 10 Long Beach State against No.19 San Diego State, 20-11 to open their campaign in the Triton Invite. The Beach will now face UC Irvine for the first Black and Blue Rivalry Game of the year for a spot in the tournament semifinals.

The Beach (3-4) got on board quickly with freshman Rita Gurri Capel scoring on a penalty shot. The Aztecs (2-3) answered back with two straight goals to take the lead over LBSU. Freshman Zelma Koka tied things for the Beach with three minutes left in the first quarter. SDSU striked again but the Beach closed the quarter with a three-goal run with Daniela Quinzada Gonzalez, Chiara Amoroso and Grace Cuozzo all adding to the scoresheet as the Beach led 5-3 after eight minutes.

In the second quarter, the Beach kept the momentum adding three more goals to their 6-0 run. Billingsly added her first of the game while Quinzada Gonzalez added her second. Freshman Gaby Patenuede got on the board to extend the Beach lead. The Aztecs stopped the Beach run to be within two with four minutes left. Long Beach State answered again with another three-goal run with Gurri Capel and Patenuede adding their second goals of the match and senior Jamie Oberman getting on the board. SDSU scored a late goal, and the Beach went into half up 10-6.

Junior Elisa Portillo got her first of the weekend opening the second half with a penalty goal and Koka netted her second as the Beach led 13-6 with 5:30 left. Back-to-back goals by the Aztecs shorten the lead but Billingsly and Portillo added their second goals of the game to keep the seven-goal lead by the Beach. SDSU added one more with 30 seconds left and Billingsly hat trick closed the quarter with LBSU leading 16-9 with eight minutes left.

The last period started with both teams trading penalty goals with Martina Cardona converting for the Beach. Patenuede completed her first hat trick as a Long Beach State player with back-to-back goals and Billingsly netted her fourth of the game to tie a career high as the Beach defeated the Aztecs 20-11 on the opening of the Triton Invite.

The Beach will face No. 6 UC Irvine on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at the Canyonview Aquatic Center for a spot in the semifinals of the tournament.