SAN DIEGO, Calif. - In the lowest scoring game in title game during the 10-year history of the Golden Coast Conference, No. 8 and top-seed Fresno State claimed their third straight GCC Championship title with a 5-3 win over No. 3 seed and 12th-ranked Pacific at the Aztec Aquaplex on Sunday afternoon.

It was tied for the third lowest scoring game in GCC tournament history as the Bulldogs (18-8) used defense to claim the 2023 GCC Women’s Water Polo Championships title, adding to the 2021 and 2022 titles. They join Pacific (2017, 18, 19) as three-time champions.

They claim the league’s automatic bid to the upcoming NCAA tournament held in Stockton at the University of the Pacific May 12-14.

Brooke Ochoa took home MVP honors and was joined on the All-Tournament team by teammates Hailey Andress and Jillian Schultz. Ochoa had six steals to pace the defense while Schultz had two goals, an assist, two drawn ejections and two steals. Andress added a goal and a steal. Daphne Guevremont had a goal and two assists.

Pacific (22-8) was in it until the end thanks to their defense. Goalie Clara Vulpisi and Brianna Utas were named to the All-Tournament team. Vulpisi had five saves and allowed just

Joining them on the All-Tournament team was LMU’s Madison Davis, San Diego State’s Claudia Valdes and Concordia’s Andie Perreira.

Fresno State scored first as Schultz netted a 6-on-5 goal to make it 1-0 with 5:40 to play. After a timeout, Pacific answered when Lucy Davis scored with 2:53 to play.

Fresno State scored the next three goals over the next 15 minutes of game action to take a 4-1 lead and looked to be taking control with 3:26 to play in the third quarter.

Pacific had other thoughts as they scored back-to-back goals to close the quarter, including Szamira Koppany’s 6-on-5 goal to make it 4-3 with :20 left.

Defense did its part and Fresno State added an insurance goal with 2:42 to play for the final margin.

Lowest Scoring GCC Tournament Games
5 - PAC 3, LMU 2 - 2017 semifinals
8 - FS 5, PAC 3 - 2023 finals
8 - APU 5, FPU 3  - 2016 consolation game
9 - LMU 6, PAC 3 - 2015 semifinals
9 - LMU 8, SCU 1 - 2019 first round

Championship Game Results
2023 - FS 5, Pacific 3
2022 - FS 11, LMU 8
2021 - FS 14, SDSU 10
2019 - PAC 13, LMU 9
2018 - PAC 10, LMU 6
2017 - PAC 11, SDSU 7
2016 - SDSU 10, PAC 9 (OT)
2015 - LMU 9, SDSU 5
2014 - LMU 10, SDSU 9 (OT)