Long Beach State University
15-10, 6-1
UC Irvine
14-12, 5-2
Long Beach State Defeats UC Irvine To Close Regular Season
4/17/2025 8:50:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
The Beach clinched the second seed for the Big West Championships.
IRVINE, Calif. – Up 8-2 at half, No. 6 Long Beach State held off No. 7 UC Irvine's late comeback to win the Black and Blue Rivalry 15-12. With the win, the Beach secured the second seed for the Big West Championships that start next Friday at the Anteater Aquatics Complex.
Long Beach State (15-10, 6-1 Big West) got on the board first with senior Jamie Oberman scoring on a beautiful shot in the first play of the game. UC Irvine (14-12, 5-2 Big West) tied right after but Chiara Amoroso put the Beach back on the lead, 2-1. Senior Chelsea Oliver massive penalty shot save led to a goal by Elisa Portillo to extend the lead. The 'Eaters scored a late goal to shorten the lead after the first quarter, 3-2.
A spectacular second quarter by the Beach opened an 8-2 gap heading into halftime. LBSU scored five unanswered goals with Martina Cardona, Grace Cuozzo and Portillo all adding one to the tally and freshman Rita Gurri Capel added a pair of goals in the quarter.
Freshman Daniela Quinzada Gonzalez continued the momentum for the Beach, scoring early on the third to open a six-goal lead. UCI answered back quickly before Cardona added her second of the day on a powerplay opportunity. The Anteaters got on the board again but back-to-back goals by Portillo and Gurri Capel put the Beach up, 12-4. A late UC Irvine goal closed the third with LBSU leading 12-5.
The 'Eaters found their groove in the fourth and scored two quick goals to shorten the lead. A backhand goal by Quinzada Gonzalez kept the Beach up by six, 13-7. UCI forced a late comeback scoring four goals against two from LBSU to close the game with the Beach defeating the 'Eaters, 15-12.
With the win, Long Beach State clinched the second seed for the conference tournament and will face CSUN for the first round of the Big West Championship on Friday April 25 at the Anteater Aquatics Complex in Irvine, Calif.
Team Stats
Jamie Oberman
7:32
Brooke Hourigan
6:41
Chiara Amoroso
4:26
Elisa Portillo
1:23
Madi O'Hara
1:09
Elisa Portillo
7:27
Martina Cardona
5:16
Rita Gurri Capel
4:40
Rita Gurri Capel
3:49
Grace Cuozzo
1:58
Daniela Quinzada Gonzalez
7:02
Brooke Hourigan
6:21
Martina Cardona
2:50
Kennedy East
2:27
Elisa Portillo
2:05
Rita Gurri Capel
0:34
Lauren Hett
0:17
Lauren Hett
7:45
Brooke Hourigan
5:52
Daniela Quinzada Gonzalez
4:32
Sara Naulty
3:31
Madi O'Hara
2:48
Jamie Oberman
2:22
Libby Alexander
2:05
Martina Cardona
1:38
Kennedy East
1:11
Brooke Hourigan
0:17
