Long Beach State University Athletics
Senior Elisa Portillo Passes 200 Career Goals As Women’s Water Polo Opens Triton Invitational With A Win
1/30/2026 2:12:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
Portillo is just the third player in program history to record 200 career goals, coming in a 19-6 win.
LA JOLLA, Calif. – No. 7 Long Beach State led No. 25 Pomona-Pitzer wire to wire to secure a 19-6 win to start the weekend behind a new milestone from Elisa Portillo. The senior became the third player in program history to reach the 200-career goal mark, scoring three goals in the win.Sophomore Zelma Koka added a career-high five goals to pace the offense along with the hattrick from Portillo.
Long Beach State (6-2) opened the game with an early 2-0 lead after back-to-back goals by Portillo. Pomona-Pitzer (0-3) scored on a penalty shot to cut the margin with three minutes remaining. A late goal by Jermonie Billingsly gave the Beach the 3-1 lead after the first quarter.
The Beach kept the momentum from the first quarter, starting a 3-0 run over the Sagehens behind goals from Lucy Miszweski, Daniela Quinzada and Zelma Koka in the second quarter. Pomona answered back to score two back-to-back goals and trail LBSU, 6-3, at half.
Sophomore Rita Gurri found the back of the net on a powerplay goal and Koka added her second of the day on a penaly shot to extend the lead for the Beach, 8-3, with 5:35 left. Back from the first round of the European Championships, Emma Seehafer added one more for Long Beach State before the Sagehens cut the margin. Both teams traded goals late in the quarter as the Beach kept ahead, leading 12-5 with one quarter remaining.
In the last quarter, the Beach scored six unanswered goals with Koka adding two in the period to record a career-high five goals on the day. Leading wire to wire, Long Beach State defeated Pomona-Pitzer, 19-6 with another 11 saves from freshman Polina Synytsia.
The Beach will next play the winner of No. 9 Loyola Marymount and No. 19 San Diego State in the first of two games on Saturday, scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at the Canyonview Aquatics Center.
