FRESNO, Calif. – In the final game of the 2026 season, the 21st-ranked and fifth-seeded Pacific women's water polo program was edged 12-11 by third-seeded and 16th-ranked San Diego State in the third-place game of the Golden Coast Conference Tournament on Sunday at the Fresno State Aquatics Center.
 
After an even first quarter, Pacific (11-11) fell behind 8-5 at the half and still trailed the Aztecs (19-10) 12-10 at the midway point of the fourth quarter. A goal by junior Alicia Petkov with 2:47 remaining trimmed it to 12-11, and the Tigers had a few looks in the final couple minutes but couldn't tally the equalizer.
 
Freshman Sophie Pethers recorded a hat trick, her third of the season. She finished the year third on the team in goals with 29.
 
A pair of goals came from both freshman Maria Ikonomou and Petkov. Junior Laia Marsinach Ortega, an All-Conference Second-Team honoree, scored once and ended the season with a team-high 51 goals.
 
Each scoring a goal in the contest was junior Lily Van Putten, junior Millie Jacobson and Cowan, an All-Conference Honorable Mention who also dished out three assists.
 
In net, junior Maja Lizy Dulic blocked a season-high 14 saves. She recorded 90 saves on the season to increase her career total 488, which ranks fifth in Pacific history.
 
It was the third year in a row that the Tigers and Aztecs squared off in the GCC third-place game as Pacific won 16-9 last season.
 
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