Saturday, March 18
Long Beach, Calif.
12:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
15-8, 0-3
7
at
15
#7 Long Beach State
13-5, 3-0
1
2
3
4
F
Cal State Northridge
3
0
2
2
7
Long Beach State
4
5
4
2
15
Photo by: Connor Clark
Matadors Drop Big West Match at Long Beach State
3/18/2023 2:38:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
LONG BEACH, Calif.--No. 22 CSUN Water Polo (15-8, 0-3 Big West) fell on the road to No. 7 Long Beach State, 15-7, on Saturday at Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center. Shelby Hovanesian and Tatiana Smeltzer scored two goals apiece to lead the Matadors while Meghan Lopez recorded seven saves in front of the cage. CSUN trailed by a goal after eight minutes but the Beach took control in the second quarter and never looked back.
After an early goal from Rachel Kowalchick, Hovanesian evened the contest at the 5:39 mark of the first quarter. Rachel Kowalchick answered for the Beach just seconds later then Anne de Kleer pushed the lead to two goals with under five minutes to play. The Beach would extend to a 4-1 lead, taking advantage of a power play before Smeltzer closed the period with back-to-back goals, pulling the Matadors to within 4-3.
The second quarter though belonged to the Beach. The Matadors spotted Long Beach State with two-straight goals then committed an exclusion penalty, which would be scored by Martina Cardona. Kowalchick completed her hat trick with 3:28 left in the first half before Gabriella Mataford-Adams closed a 5-0 Beach run to push the lead to 9-3.
In the third period, CSUN gave up goals to Kowalchick and de Kleer to open the second half. Dorottya Telek would end a 12-plus minute scoring drought, but by that time CSUN looked up at a 11-4 deficit. Hovanesian notched her second goal of the match with less than minute to play in the third as CSUN trailed 13-5 after 24 minutes.Â
The Matadors would dig a 10-goal deficit in the fourth before picking up a pair of late tallies from Jessica Matkovich and Nicole Thomas, but it was not enough to catch the Beach.
GAME NOTES
Dorottya Telek scored her Big West-leading 84th goal in the contest to go with an assist and a steal. Helena Sandhagen and Shelby Hovanesian each had one assist apiece.
ACCORING TO COACH MATT WARSHAW
"Tough day for our squad. We played a decent first quarter, keeping it 4-3, but the turnovers in the second quarter led to a deficit we just couldn't climb out of. Hats off to Long Beach, they outplayed us today and capitalized on our mistakes."
UP NEXT
CSUN competes in the Whittier Invitational next Sunday, March 26. The Matadors take on host Whittier at 9 a.m. before facing Brown at noon.
#GoMatadors
After an early goal from Rachel Kowalchick, Hovanesian evened the contest at the 5:39 mark of the first quarter. Rachel Kowalchick answered for the Beach just seconds later then Anne de Kleer pushed the lead to two goals with under five minutes to play. The Beach would extend to a 4-1 lead, taking advantage of a power play before Smeltzer closed the period with back-to-back goals, pulling the Matadors to within 4-3.
The second quarter though belonged to the Beach. The Matadors spotted Long Beach State with two-straight goals then committed an exclusion penalty, which would be scored by Martina Cardona. Kowalchick completed her hat trick with 3:28 left in the first half before Gabriella Mataford-Adams closed a 5-0 Beach run to push the lead to 9-3.
In the third period, CSUN gave up goals to Kowalchick and de Kleer to open the second half. Dorottya Telek would end a 12-plus minute scoring drought, but by that time CSUN looked up at a 11-4 deficit. Hovanesian notched her second goal of the match with less than minute to play in the third as CSUN trailed 13-5 after 24 minutes.Â
The Matadors would dig a 10-goal deficit in the fourth before picking up a pair of late tallies from Jessica Matkovich and Nicole Thomas, but it was not enough to catch the Beach.
GAME NOTES
Dorottya Telek scored her Big West-leading 84th goal in the contest to go with an assist and a steal. Helena Sandhagen and Shelby Hovanesian each had one assist apiece.
ACCORING TO COACH MATT WARSHAW
"Tough day for our squad. We played a decent first quarter, keeping it 4-3, but the turnovers in the second quarter led to a deficit we just couldn't climb out of. Hats off to Long Beach, they outplayed us today and capitalized on our mistakes."
UP NEXT
CSUN competes in the Whittier Invitational next Sunday, March 26. The Matadors take on host Whittier at 9 a.m. before facing Brown at noon.
#GoMatadors
Team Stats
CSUN
LBSU
Shots
28
33
Goals
7
15
Assists
3
10
Points
10
25
Exclusions
3
10
Steals
9
9
Sprints
0
4
1
Rachael Kowalchick
6:48
Shelby Hovanesian
5:39
Rachael Kowalchick
5:24
Anne de Kleer
4:42
Gabriella Matafora-Adams
2:38
Tatiana Smeltzer
1:50
Tatiana Smeltzer
0:00
2
Gabriella Matafora-Adams
5:27
Mariah Walker
4:53
Martina Cardona
4:13
Rachael Kowalchick
3:28
Gabriella Matafora-Adams
1:50
3
Rachael Kowalchick
6:15
Anne de Kleer
4:06
Dorottya Telek
3:45
Rachael Kowalchick
2:37
Shelby Hovanesian
0:38
Nadja Novakovic
0:19
4
Jamie Oberman
6:35
Elisa Portillo
4:47
Jessica Matkovich
2:46
Nicole Thomas
2:02
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
7
Goals
2
Assists
1
Points
3
Shots
4
Goals
0
Assists
0
Points
0
Shots
3
Goals
2
Assists
0
Points
2
Shots
3
Goals
0
Assists
0
Points
0
Players Mentioned
Attacker
/ Women's Water Polo
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Water Polo
Utility
/ Women's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Women's Water PoloAttacker
/ Women's Water Polo
Center
/ Women's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Women's Water PoloA Conversation With Matt Warshaw
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Meet the Matadors - 2017 Women's Water Polo
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