Long Beach State Concludes Perfect Opening Weekend With Two Dominant Wins

Saturday, January 17

Fullerton, Calif.

11 a.m.

Long Beach State University

3-0

Biola

0-3

Biola

Long Beach State

Long Beach State Concludes Perfect Opening Weekend With Two Dominant Wins

1/17/2026 6:24:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Rita Gurri scored a career-high six goals against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.

By: Luiza Moraes - Athletic Communication Assistant

FULLERTON, Calif. – Women's Water Polo finished its first weekend perfect, adding two more wins over Biola, 20-7, and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 21-5. Sophomore Rita Gurri scored eight goals on the day to pace the offense on a perfect weekend of shooting, including a career-high six goals against the Athenas.

Senior Elisa Portillo added 20 goals over the first weekend and jumped to third all-time in goals scored for the program with 196.

Against the Eagles, Portillo led the offense with a season-high six goals, while Gaby Patenaude added four. Long Beach State (4-0) started the game strong, controlling the pace with a 4-0 lead.

Continuing the momentum, the Beach scored two quick goals by Patenaude early in the second period to extend the lead to six. Biola got one past the Beach defense, but freshman Ronny Gazit and Angeliki Arroyo answered right away to keep LBSU in control. Portillo added two late goals in the period as the Beach led 10-3 at halftime.

Zelma Koka scored the first of four unanswered goals for LBSU in the third period, taking a 14-3 lead with 2:29 left. The Eagles cut the margin, but a late goal by Chiara Amoroso after both teams traded goals closed the third period with Long Beach State ahead, 16-5. A 3-0 run opened the final period for the Beach as teams traded goals late, with LBSU winning its third game of the season, 20-7.

Portillo led all 10 Beach scorers with six goals, while Polina Synytsia and Charlotte Echlin combined for 10 saves in the cage.

Picking up where they left off, the Beach started strong, opening a 4-0 lead early in the first period before the Athenas got one on the board. Jermonie Billingsly scored back-to-back goals to extend LBSU's lead, but CMS answered right away. Up 6-2, the Beach found power on offense with Rita Gurri scoring five straight goals, and Patenaude added one more as LBSU led 12-2 at halftime.

Long Beach State went on another 4-0 run to start the second half, leading 16-2 with 1:58 left. CMS responded with two goals to close the gap to 16-4 with one period remaining. Spaniards Portillo and Daniela Quinzada combined for five goals in the quarter as the Beach concluded a perfect weekend, defeating the Athenas, 21-5.

The Beach will continue on the road for the Bridget Donner Daws Memorial Tournament in Berkeley, Calif., facing three ranked opponents, starting with No. 1 Stanford on January 24 at 9 a.m., with the livestream provided through Overnight.com.