Women’s Water Polo Falls On The Road To No. 1 USC

Saturday, February 15

Los Angeles, Calif.

1 p.m

Long Beach State University

5-6

USC

11-0

Long Beach State

Southern California

Photo by: Luiza Moraes

2/15/2025 2:36:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

Box Score

Ellie Goren and Elisa Portillo each scored a hat trick for Long Beach State.

By: Luiza Moraes - Athletic Communication Assistant

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – No. 9 Long Beach State fought hard against No. 1 USC on the road, heading into halftime tied but a strong second half by the Trojans gave the hosts the win, 16-10. Ellie Goren and Elisa Portillo added hat-tricks to lead the Beach offense while Chelsea Oliver added seven saves on defense.

The Trojans (11-0) opened with two quick goals, but Portillo got her first of the game to cut the lead. USC answered back and Goren put one on the net to make it 3-2 at the end of the first.

A strong start for the Beach (5-6) on the second quarter gave the early lead after Martina Cardona and Daniela Quinzada Gonzalez each added a goal. The Trojans fought back and took the lead after two back-to-back goals. Portillo added another one to tie the game. SC took another lead but with seven seconds left senior Jamie Oberman shot fom outside and tied the game 6-6 after 16 minutes.

The second half saw USC scoring three unanswered goals quickly, but Portillo and Cardona back-to-back goals put the Beach back in reach, 10-8. Just before the buzzer, the Trojans sneaked one in to head into the last period up 11-8.

The Trojans picked up from where they left things in the previous quarter, but Goren scored two quick goals as the Beach trailed by two with four minutes left. USC closed the game on a 4-0 run to take the win a keep their undefeated season.

The Beach will be back at the Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center on Tuesday night to host the Toronto Golden Jets in an exhibition. LBSU will then head to Irvine for their last non-conference tournament of the season starting Friday morning as Long Beach State will face No. 10 Arizona State at 11:20 a.m.