Fresno State’s quest for a fifth straight title ends at the hands of the Lions.
The No. 2 seed Fresno State women’s water polo team lost to the No. 1 seed Loyola Marymount University Lions 14-12 in the GCC championship game on Sunday, April 27, at the Burns Aquatics Center.
The Lions capture their first GCC title since 2015, and avenge their 2024 GCC title overtime loss to the ‘Dogs. The Lions were the kryptonite for the ‘Dogs in the GCC this year.
In her final game as a Bulldog, senior attacker Abbey Simshauser led the ‘Dogs with five goals and an assist for a 6-point game. She also drew five exclusions and had four steals. Senior utility Brooke Ochoa ended her Bulldog career with three goals and two assists for a 5-point game.
Simshauser and Ochoa were named to the all-tournament team.
“We didn’t play especially well,” said Head Coach Natalie Benson. “[The Lions] had a great game plan. They were able to execute their plays, and we weren’t able to do that.”
A split crowd for the Bulldogs and Lions was fired up. The sun was out, the winds were calm and the pool echoed with past champions. It was time to crown a champion.
What Happened?
After the Star-Spangled Banner, there was never a quiet moment; both teams jumped in for the final time in the GCC, and it was off and running.
The Lions won the opening sprint and put their feet on the ‘Dogs’ throats early. The Red Wave was silenced early, and the Lions were roaring.
After falling behind 3-0 and coming up empty on their first five possessions, the ‘Dogs finally got on the board.
“We just weren’t ourselves for four quarters,” Benson said. “At this level, you have to be on top of it for four quarters.”
The barking erupted, and the Red Wave unveiled a group that had “GO DOGS!” painted on their chest.
The Lions kept applying pressure to the ‘Dogs, but there was no quit today.
The second quarter began with a sprint win for the ‘Dogs, but no offense. Freshman center Marit van der Kolk rang one off the post.
The ‘Dogs got a spark from Simshauser to make it 4-3. Sophomore goalie Ida Tully-Giles found Ochoa in transition, who buried a goal to tie the game.
The crowd erupted for the ‘Dogs. They were back in the fight.
The Lions got a big save, and it sapped the ‘Dogs’ momentum. The last four minutes of the second quarter were all Lions, scoring five goals to stretch their largest lead of the game.
Heading into halftime, heads were in hands. The realization of a loss was setting in for the ‘Dogs.
To spark momentum, Benson opted to change goalies, swapping to sophomore goalie Islay Martin-Hill.
“It can’t hurt to try something new if you’re struggling,” Benson said. “Maybe a little reset for [Tully-Giles] and a little defensive change strategically too.”
The Lions were about to face the full force of the ‘Dogs and their fans.
A spark from sophomore center Caitlyn Mossman snowballed into four straight goals for the ‘Dogs to cut the lead to two. With each goal, the ‘Dogs barking louder, and the Lions cowering.
Simshauser tallied late in the third quarter, which had the ‘Dogs down by three. If the ‘Dogs were going to come back, they would have to start fast in the fourth quarter.
Instead, the ‘Dogs wasted the opening two minutes and were still down three. Junior attacker Hailey Andress scored off an Ochoa rebound to give the ‘Dogs a huge goal.
The all-important steal that the Bulldogs needed eluded them in the final minutes. The Lions knew that the ‘Dogs were their prey. LMU all but secured the title with 55 seconds to go with a goal that put the Lions up two.
“No one on this team has any perspective of what this feels like,” Benson said. “I think it’ll make us hungrier.”
There was no miracle to be found for the ‘Dogs as their season ended in heartbreak. Amplified cheers from the Lions and the echoes of We Are the Champions filled the air as the ‘Dogs left the Burns Aquatics Center.
“At some point, the universe is against you,” Benson said. “Nobody wants to see a team win five times in a row, but we were pretty darn close. It’s great for us to be the underdog again and have something to prove.”
What’s Next?
The ‘Dogs head into the offseason. A group of seniors who built the program into a powerhouse move on. The 2026 season will start in January 2026.
