Women’s Water Polo Falls Just Short to No. 3 USC In The Opening Round Of The Barbara Kalbus Invitational

Friday, February 13

Irvine, Calif.

4:30 p.m.

Long Beach State University

7-6

USC

10-1

Long Beach State

Southern California

Women’s Water Polo Falls Just Short to No. 3 USC In The Opening Round Of The Barbara Kalbus Invitational

2/13/2026 6:05:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

Box Score

Spaniards Elisa Portillo and Daniela Quinzada scored a hat trick each.

By: Luiza Moraes - Athletic Communication Assistant

IRVINE, Calif. – Down by four with just over five minutes left, No. 7 Long Beach State pushed a three-goal run to close the gap after a bar-in by Brooklyn Plomp with 1:44 left but ultimately fell just short to No. 3 USC in the opening round of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational, 13-11.

Spaniards Elisa Portillo and Daniela Quinzada both added a hat trick, while Polina Synytsia recorded six saves.

USC (10-1) got on the board first, but Long Beach State (7-6) answered right away with a goal from Zelma Koka. Trading goals once again, the Trojans found a late score to take a 3-2 lead after the first period.

Two quick goals by USC in the second extended the lead to 5-2. The Beach fought back with goals by Portillo and Hailey Multz to cut the margin and trailed 5-4 at halftime.

In an exciting game, both teams continued to trade goals, but USC put together a three-goal run to open its largest margin of the game, 11-6, early in the fourth period.

LBSU never stopped fighting, and with 5:52 left after Emily Ausmus scored to give USC a 12-8 lead, the Beach pushed a three-goal run. After a bar-in by Brooklyn Plomp, LBSU cut the lead to 12-11 with 1:44 remaining. With an opportunity to tie, the Beach saw the play go the other way after an offensive foul, and USC capitalized to seal the win, 13-11, in a close game from the first whistle.

The Beach will now face No. 12 Fresno State in the second game of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational at 1:30 p.m. at the Anteater Aquatics Complex, with live stats provided through TheFOSH.net.