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 15th 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