CSUN Falls to Long Beach State at Home

Saturday, March 30

Northridge, Calif.

12:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

16-14, 0-4

#6 Long Beach State

18-6, 3-0

Long Beach State

CSUN

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

CSUN Falls to Long Beach State at Home

3/30/2024 1:32:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---No. 25 CSUN Water Polo fell to No. 6 Long Beach State 15-6 in a Big West match on Saturday at Matador Pool. Anna Pal and Kianna Melvin led the way offensively with two goals apiece.

HOW IT HAPPENED
CSUN kept pace in the early going with the sixth-ranked Beach. Long Beach State jumped to a 2-0 lead on goals from Mariah Walker and Elisa Portillo, but CSUN answered with a tally from Pal at the five-minute mark of the first period. CSUN fell behind 4-1 before battling back with a Melvin goal on a power play and another goal from Pal to pull to within 4-3 through eight minutes.

In the second quarter, the Beach came out quickly with quick tallies to extend to a 6-3 advantage. Melvin notched her second goal of the match at the 5:23 mark of the second period, but Portillo answered right back for the Beach. Dorottya Telek would draw a penalty shot with two minutes left in the half and hit the net to pull the Matadors to within 7-5. The final 90 seconds though belonged to the Beach as they scored twice to lead 9-5 at halftime.

It would be all Beach in the third period as the lead swelled to seven goals. CSUN drew a pair of exclusions but could not cash in while the Beach scored three times on even strength possessions. Long Beach State kept up the momentum with three-straight goals to open the fourth period to put the game out of reach. The Matadors would earn a pair of penalty shots in the final stanza, but goalkeeper Emma Seehafer stopped both attempts. Nicole Bacoyanis scored CSUN's final tally of the match with 2:36 to play.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN slips to 16-13 overall and 0-4 in Big West play while Long Beach State improves to 18-6 and 3-0.
Goalkeeper Meghan Lopez finished with 11 saves.
Telek finished with 10 exclusions drawn to go with three steals and one assist.

ACCORDING TO COACH MATT WARSHAW
"Great atmosphere for a home contest against the sixth-ranked team in the country. We showed great fight all the way to the end, but Long Beach capitalized on our mistakes and continued to force us into uncountable offensive situations. A few days to prepare for another ranked opponent in UCSB and we'll be ready to battle again next week."

UP NEXT
CSUN wraps up its home schedule with a Senior Day matchup with UC Santa Barbara at noon. The Matadors will honor their senior class in a pre-game ceremony.

#GoMatadors