Fresno State Athletics
Sunday, April 12
Fresno, CA
1 p.m. PT
Fresno State
15-10
6
vs
8
No. 1 seed LMU
23-4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno State | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Loyola Marymount | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
Team Stats
FS
LMU
Shots
35
30
Goals
6
8
Assists
2
5
Points
8
13
Exclusions
4
2
Steals
5
5
Sprints
4
0
1
Hailey Andress
5:26
Hailey Andress
3:17
Cila David
2:01
Kira Anderson
0:19
2
Riaan Bryant
5:25
Emison Styris
2:22
3
Brooke Tora Gil
2:44
Anna Tarantino
1:48
Marit van der Kolk
1:22
Cianne Benjamin
1:05
4
Marit van der Kolk
5:32
Emison Styris
5:10
Anna Tarantino
3:26
Cila David
2:25
Game Leaders
Shots
10
Goals
2
Assists
0
Points
2
Shots
9
Goals
1
Assists
2
Points
3
Shots
6
Goals
0
Assists
0
Points
0
Shots
2
Goals
2
Assists
0
Points
2
Players Mentioned
Attacker/Defender
/ Water PoloAttacker
/ Water PoloAttacker
/ Water PoloDefender
/ Water Polo
Photo by: Micaela Trujillo
Bulldogs fall to LMU in GCC Championship Game
4/12/2026 2:50:00 PM | Water Polo
FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State water polo team led after the opening quarter, but Loyola Marymount used a late push to hand the Bulldogs an 8-6 setback in the Golden Coast Conference Championship Game on Sunday afternoon at the Fresno State Aquatics Center.
Fresno State held LMU to one goal in the first quarter and carried the lead into halftime, but the Lions outscored the Bulldogs 6-2 over the final two periods to pull out the win.
How It Happened
The Bulldogs came out sharp and struck first at the 5:26 mark of the opening quarter when Hailey Andress scored off an assist from Riaan Bryant. Andress added her second goal of the period with 3:17 left in the frame, helping Fresno State build early momentum.
After LMU got on the board with 2:01 left in the first, Kira Anderson answered in the closing seconds, scoring with 19 seconds remaining to send the Bulldogs into the second quarter with a 3-1 lead.
Fresno State extended its advantage in the second. Bryant converted a penalty shot at the 5:25 mark to make it 4-1, giving the 'Dogs their largest lead of the match. LMU answered with an exclusion goal from Emison Styris later in the quarter, but Fresno State still took a 4-2 lead into halftime.
The Lions turned the match in the third quarter.
LMU scored twice in less than a minute to open the late rally, trimming the deficit and then pulling even. Fresno State answered when Marit van der Kolk scored off a Bryant assist with 1:22 remaining in the third, briefly putting the Bulldogs back in front, but the Lions responded 17 seconds later to tie the match at 5-5 heading into the fourth.
Van der Kolk gave Fresno State its final lead of the day with a goal at the 5:32 mark of the fourth quarter, making it 6-5. But LMU answered quickly with a goal from Styris just 22 seconds later, then took the lead for good on a penalty shot by Anna Tarantino with 3:26 left. The Lions added one more goal with 2:25 remaining to secure the 8-6 result.
Fresno State finishes its 2026 season with an overall record of 15-10.
All-Tournament
Fresno State senior Hailey Andress was named to the All-Tournament Team alongside freshman goalkeeper Kaitlyn Mobley.
Fresno State held LMU to one goal in the first quarter and carried the lead into halftime, but the Lions outscored the Bulldogs 6-2 over the final two periods to pull out the win.
How It Happened
The Bulldogs came out sharp and struck first at the 5:26 mark of the opening quarter when Hailey Andress scored off an assist from Riaan Bryant. Andress added her second goal of the period with 3:17 left in the frame, helping Fresno State build early momentum.
After LMU got on the board with 2:01 left in the first, Kira Anderson answered in the closing seconds, scoring with 19 seconds remaining to send the Bulldogs into the second quarter with a 3-1 lead.
Fresno State extended its advantage in the second. Bryant converted a penalty shot at the 5:25 mark to make it 4-1, giving the 'Dogs their largest lead of the match. LMU answered with an exclusion goal from Emison Styris later in the quarter, but Fresno State still took a 4-2 lead into halftime.
The Lions turned the match in the third quarter.
LMU scored twice in less than a minute to open the late rally, trimming the deficit and then pulling even. Fresno State answered when Marit van der Kolk scored off a Bryant assist with 1:22 remaining in the third, briefly putting the Bulldogs back in front, but the Lions responded 17 seconds later to tie the match at 5-5 heading into the fourth.
Van der Kolk gave Fresno State its final lead of the day with a goal at the 5:32 mark of the fourth quarter, making it 6-5. But LMU answered quickly with a goal from Styris just 22 seconds later, then took the lead for good on a penalty shot by Anna Tarantino with 3:26 left. The Lions added one more goal with 2:25 remaining to secure the 8-6 result.
Fresno State finishes its 2026 season with an overall record of 15-10.
All-Tournament
Fresno State senior Hailey Andress was named to the All-Tournament Team alongside freshman goalkeeper Kaitlyn Mobley.
GCC Semifinal Postgame (HC Natalie Benson)
Saturday, April 11
WP: Hailey Andress feature
Friday, April 10
Water Polo GCC Championship Media Availability
Thursday, April 09
WP Media Availability [1/12/26]
Monday, January 12