Fresno State Athletics
Sunday, April 27
Los Angeles, Calif.
1 p.m. PT
Fresno State
14-7
12
at
14
LMU
19-11
1
2
3
4
F
Fresno State
2
2
5
3
12
Loyola Marymount
4
5
3
2
14
Team Stats
FS
LMU
Shots
34
27
Goals
12
14
Assists
10
14
Points
22
28
Exclusions
7
11
Steals
9
8
Sprints
3
1
1
Sophia DeMattia
7:02
Anna Tarantino
4:58
Yanah Gerber
4:16
Abbey Simshauser
3:34
Ruth Arino Ruiz
2:02
Kira Anderson
1:18
2
Abbey Simshauser
6:07
Brooke Ochoa
5:45
Skye Nankervis
4:01
Skye Nankervis
3:22
Ruth Arino Ruiz
2:03
Anna Tarantino
1:05
Kawehi Kauahi
0:24
3
Ruth Arino Ruiz
6:33
Caitlyn Mossman
6:16
Marit van der Kolk
5:32
Abbey Simshauser
4:41
Brooke Ochoa
3:55
Anna Tarantino
3:39
Carolina Magano
2:48
Abbey Simshauser
1:37
4
Hailey Andress
4:59
Abbey Simshauser
4:09
Yanah Gerber
3:49
Brooke Ochoa
2:53
Carolina Magano
0:55
Game Leaders
Shots
11
Goals
5
Assists
1
Points
6
Shots
6
Goals
3
Assists
2
Points
5
Shots
6
Goals
1
Assists
0
Points
1
Shots
4
Goals
1
Assists
2
Points
3
Players Mentioned
Attacker
/ Water PoloAttacker
/ Water Polo
Goalkeeper
/ Water Polo
Attacker
/ Water Polo
Attacker
/ Water Polo
Goalkeeper
/ Water Polo
Center
/ Water PoloUtility
/ Water Polo
Attacker
/ Water PoloAttacker
/ Water Polo
Goalkeeper
/ Water PoloDefender
/ Water Polo
Photo by: Amiee Sabado
Fresno State falls to LMU in championship game
4/27/2025 4:30:00 PM | Water Polo
LOS ANGELES - The No. 2 seed Fresno State water polo team fell 14-12 to the No. 1 seed LMU in the championship game of the Golden Coast Conference championship tournament. The Bulldogs saw their run of four-straight GCC titles come to an end on Sunday. Fresno State finishes the season with a 14-8 overall record.Â
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Brooke Ochoa and Abbey Simshauser were named to the GCC All-Tournament team for their performances this weekend.
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Simshauser led the 'Dogs on Sunday with five goals. Ochoa scored three goals, Hailey Andress, Marit van der Kolk, Caitlyn Mossman and Kira Anderson each scored one.
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Simshauser did it all for the 'Dogs in her final collegiate game, registering five drawn exclusions, four steals and an assist to go along with her goals.
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How it happened
Fresno State was beaten in the opening sprint, but Elisa Grim blocked the shot attempt to keep them off the board. LMU responded with a block on a shot by Andress. The Lions got out to a 3-0 lead before Simshauser scored her first on the powerplay opportunity. Fresno State's momentum was halted after a pair of turnovers and another LMU goal to put the Lions up 4-1 with two minutes remaining in the first quarter.
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 Ochoa found Anderson to cut the lead in half and make it a 4-2 game at the end of the first.
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After winning the second quarter sprint, Fresno State saw three shots that were denied. Andress was whistled for an exclusion, but the Lions were called for an offensive foul on their 6-on-5 chance that gave possession back to Fresno State. Megan Cranley set up Simshauser for the Bulldogs' first goal of the period.
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After a steal by Simshauser, Ida Tully-Giles got the ball ahead to Ochoa for the game-tying goal as she knotted things at four apiece with 5:45 left before halftime. LMU ended the half with five unanswered goals, taking a 9-4 lead into the break.
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The Lions extended their lead with a quick goal in the third. Mossman ended the Bulldogs' scoring drought, off the assist from Grim. The goal from the Bulldogs' center sparked a four goal streak for the 'Dogs that had the game back within two. LMU ended the run, taking an 11-8 lead with 3:39 left in the third quarter.
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With Islay Martin-Hill coming into the cage, LMU was still able to get one across to extend the lead back to four. Fresno State kept its foot on the gas, taking shot attempts that would not fall in its favor. Finally, Ochoa found Simshauser for the goal on a powerplay chance to give a boost to the Bulldogs. The teams traded possessions, but neither were able to make much of anything as Fresno State trailed 12-9 heading into the fourth.
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The fourth quarter was out to a slow start as neither team was able to score but saw several opportunities. Ochoa took a shot that was batted away by the goalkeeper, but Andress grabbed the rebound and put the play away and got the 'Dogs back within two, 12-10.
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After a Bulldog exclusion, LMU's shot attempt was off the post and it didn't take long for Fresno State to get down to their offensive possession and capitalize with a goal from Simshauser and assist by Andress. The goal by the senior made it a 12-11 game with 4:09 remaining.
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LMU called timeout, and executed its plan to retake a two-goal lead 13-11. The Bulldogs were able to have several opportunities to score, and did so on their third try as Andress and van der Kolk both had shots blocked out of bounds before Ochoa knocked one in on a 6-on-5 play.
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Tully-Giles came up clutch with two big saves to keep the Bulldogs within one, but with 55 seconds left in regulation, the Lions added another tally. Fresno State called its final timeout, and van der Kolk's shot attempt was denied by the LMU keeper. LMU held possession as the clock ran out.
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Notable
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Brooke Ochoa and Abbey Simshauser were named to the GCC All-Tournament team for their performances this weekend.
Â
Simshauser led the 'Dogs on Sunday with five goals. Ochoa scored three goals, Hailey Andress, Marit van der Kolk, Caitlyn Mossman and Kira Anderson each scored one.
Â
Simshauser did it all for the 'Dogs in her final collegiate game, registering five drawn exclusions, four steals and an assist to go along with her goals.
Â
How it happened
Fresno State was beaten in the opening sprint, but Elisa Grim blocked the shot attempt to keep them off the board. LMU responded with a block on a shot by Andress. The Lions got out to a 3-0 lead before Simshauser scored her first on the powerplay opportunity. Fresno State's momentum was halted after a pair of turnovers and another LMU goal to put the Lions up 4-1 with two minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Â
 Ochoa found Anderson to cut the lead in half and make it a 4-2 game at the end of the first.
Â
After winning the second quarter sprint, Fresno State saw three shots that were denied. Andress was whistled for an exclusion, but the Lions were called for an offensive foul on their 6-on-5 chance that gave possession back to Fresno State. Megan Cranley set up Simshauser for the Bulldogs' first goal of the period.
Â
After a steal by Simshauser, Ida Tully-Giles got the ball ahead to Ochoa for the game-tying goal as she knotted things at four apiece with 5:45 left before halftime. LMU ended the half with five unanswered goals, taking a 9-4 lead into the break.
Â
The Lions extended their lead with a quick goal in the third. Mossman ended the Bulldogs' scoring drought, off the assist from Grim. The goal from the Bulldogs' center sparked a four goal streak for the 'Dogs that had the game back within two. LMU ended the run, taking an 11-8 lead with 3:39 left in the third quarter.
Â
With Islay Martin-Hill coming into the cage, LMU was still able to get one across to extend the lead back to four. Fresno State kept its foot on the gas, taking shot attempts that would not fall in its favor. Finally, Ochoa found Simshauser for the goal on a powerplay chance to give a boost to the Bulldogs. The teams traded possessions, but neither were able to make much of anything as Fresno State trailed 12-9 heading into the fourth.
Â
The fourth quarter was out to a slow start as neither team was able to score but saw several opportunities. Ochoa took a shot that was batted away by the goalkeeper, but Andress grabbed the rebound and put the play away and got the 'Dogs back within two, 12-10.
Â
After a Bulldog exclusion, LMU's shot attempt was off the post and it didn't take long for Fresno State to get down to their offensive possession and capitalize with a goal from Simshauser and assist by Andress. The goal by the senior made it a 12-11 game with 4:09 remaining.
Â
LMU called timeout, and executed its plan to retake a two-goal lead 13-11. The Bulldogs were able to have several opportunities to score, and did so on their third try as Andress and van der Kolk both had shots blocked out of bounds before Ochoa knocked one in on a 6-on-5 play.
Â
Tully-Giles came up clutch with two big saves to keep the Bulldogs within one, but with 55 seconds left in regulation, the Lions added another tally. Fresno State called its final timeout, and van der Kolk's shot attempt was denied by the LMU keeper. LMU held possession as the clock ran out.
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Notable
- Seniors Abigayle Armstrong, Elisa Grim, Brooke Ochoa, Ella Simone and Abbey Simshauser see their collegiate careers come to a close.
- Ochoa leaves as the program's all-time leading scorer with 217 career goals.
- She finished the season with 74 goals, tying the program's single season goal record.
- In Saturday's semifinal game, she scored seven goals for a single game program record mark.
- Simshauser closes out her decorated collegiate career with 128 goals as a Bulldog, along with her 234 that she scored in her three seasons at Wagner. She ended her collegiate career with 362 career goals.
- Freshman Marit van der Kolk concludes the 2024 season with 22-straight sprint wins. She finished the season with a 41-4 sprint record, the third-best win percentage in a season in program history.
WP: GCC Championship Quarterfinal vs CUI [4.25.25]
Saturday, April 26
WP highlight vs CUI [2.22.25]
Saturday, February 22
WP highlight vs Redlands [2.15.25]
Tuesday, February 18
WP highlight vs Fresno Pacific [2/15/25]
Saturday, February 15