Women’s Water Polo Opens 2026 Season With Two Wins

Friday, January 16

Fullerton, Calif.

9 a.m.

Long Beach State University

1-0

Cal State Monterey Bay

0-1

Cal State Monterey Bay

Long Beach State

1/16/2026 4:34:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Elisa Portillo paced the offense on the day with nine goals.

By: Luiza Moraes - Athletic Communication Assistant

FULLERTON, Calif. – No. 6 Long Beach State started its 2026 campaign at the Titan Invitational with two wins over CSUMB, 25-6, and No. 21 San Diego State, 23-16. Senior Elisa Portillo paced the offense with nine goals on the day.

In the first game of the season, Long Beach State (2-0) dominated Cal State Monterey Bay (0-2), earning a 25-6 win over the Otters. Elisa Portillo and Chiara Amoroso both added five goals, while Lucy Miszewski recorded a hat trick and a team-high five assists.

The Otters got on the board first, but an 8-0 run gave the Beach control of the game as freshman Emelia Rasner scored her first collegiate goal late in the first period. LBSU continued the pace on offense, scoring five unanswered goals until CSUMB tallied its second of the game. Senior Hailey Multz added a late goal as the Beach led 14-2 at halftime, with Charlotte Echlin recording six saves.

Miszewski opened the third period for the Beach with her third goal of the day as LBSU continued to extend its lead with a 4-0 run. Portillo's fourth goal of the day kept the Beach ahead, 19-3, after three periods.

CSUMB scored first in the fourth quarter to shorten the lead, but back-to-back goals by Elyana Goren and Rita Gurri controlled the offense as the Beach secured its first win of the season, 25-6 over Cal State Monterey Bay. Freshman Polina Synytsia recorded four saves in her first collegiate game for the Beach, playing the final two quarters of the game.

In the second game of the day, the Beach went back and forth with No. 21 SDSU, securing a 23-16 win after a career-high five goals from sophomore Gaby Patenaude, while seniors Portillo and Miszewski added four each.

Tied 3-3 early in the first quarter, LBSU put together a 3-0 run against San Diego State (1-1) to take an early 6-3 lead before the Aztecs cut the deficit late in the first eight minutes. Carrying momentum from the end of the quarter, SDSU closed the gap before both teams traded goals. Miszewski's back-to-back goals gave the Beach a 12-9 lead with 2:15 left in the second period. Chiara Amoroso added one with two seconds remaining to keep the Beach ahead, 13-10, at halftime.

SDSU tied the game early in the third period after a 3-0 run, but five unanswered goals by the Beach kept the team in control heading into the final period.

Trading goals again in the fourth period, Long Beach State closed the game with a 3-0 run to secure its second win of the season, 23-16 over the Aztecs as Synytsia recorded seven saves..

Long Beach State will play two more games on Saturday to close the weekend, facing Biola at 11 a.m. and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 5 p.m. at the Titan Aquatics Center, with live stats provided through TheFOSH.net.