Women’s Water Polo: LBCC picks up two wins on Day 1 of Battle at the Beach

Day 1 Results/Day 2 Schedule

The No. 5 state-ranked Long Beach City College women's water polo team earned two close wins on the opening day of the 15^th annual truWest Battle at the Beach tournament at LBCC.

The Vikings opened tournament play with a 7-5 victory over Cypress College and came back later in the day to defeat No. 9 Palomar College 5-2.

Long Beach needed a third-quarter rally to pull out the win over Cypress. With the score 3-3 at halftime, LBCC scored four unanswered goals in the third quarter to jump ahead 7-3. Freshman Jessica Diaz (pictured) led the Vikings with two goals in the Cypress win.

Long Beach had a little bit more breathing room in the victory over Palomar. Freshman Ranya El-Tawil had two goals, including the go-ahead score at the 3:22 mark in the second, to pace the Vikings. Sophomore Jackie Rojas also scored twice for LBCC.

The Vikings, now 16-7 overall, will face No. 1 Golden West College on Saturday at 12:25 p.m. at the Cypress College Aquatic Center.  A win would put LBCC in the championship match at 6:55 p.m. while a loss would place the Vikings in the third-place game at 5:50 p.m.

Day 1 Results
At Cypress:
Sierra 10, Cuesta 4
San Diego Mesa 6, Pasadena 4
Citrus 16, Southwestern 13
Rio Hondo 16, Saddleback 13
Cuesta 13, Pasadena 10
Sierra 10, San Diego Mesa 8
Saddleback 10, Southwestern 9
Citrus 17, Rio Hondo 15

At LBCC:
Long Beach 7, Cypress 5
Golden West 11, Mt. SAC 5
Cerritos 6, Grossmont 2
Riverside 13, Chaffey 5
Palomar 5, Cypress 3
Ventura 5, Mt. SAC 4
Fullerton 12, Grossmont 8
Orange Coast 12, Chaffey 11
Long Beach 5, Palomar 2
Golden West 21, Ventura 2
Fullerton 14, Cerritos 11
Riverside 14, Orange Coast 10

Photo by Chris Ruiz