The562’s coverage of aquatic sports in Long Beach in 2025-26 is sponsored by Watersafe Swim School.
The562’s coverage of Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009
The562’s coverage of Jordan Athletics is sponsored by former LBUSD superintendent Chris Steinhauser and the Timu Foundation.
Wilson girls’ water polo has long been the dominant force in Long Beach. It took the Bruins just one quarter at last night’s Moore League Showcase to show why they’re once again the favorites to win the Moore League this year.
Already leading Jordan 5-0 with time winding down in the opening period, Emmylou Kennedy floated a pass to fellow freshman Layla Salley, who fired an effort into the back of the cage from distance.
Salley was the sixth Bruin to score in a six-goal first quarter. Prompted by that early advantage, Wilson cruised to a 12-7 victory over the Panthers in the Moore League showcase at Lakewood’s Aquatic Center.
“We’re an Open Division team,” Wilson head coach Barry O’Dea said. “Jordan is a young program. They’re getting themselves together, and we wanted to come out and set a good tone for the Moore League.”
The Bruins’ diverse scoring through the first seven minutes gave them the freedom to experiment in the following quarter.
After goalkeeper Teagan Shandrew-Pearsall made a couple of one-handed stops in the early going, O’Dea moved her into the field. Playing on the opposite end of the pool, the senior Bucknell commit scored several times in the second quarter as Wilson’s goal tally ballooned into double digits.
“To see her go out there and play some field, and win a sprint, and score a goal out at center, it was cool,” O’Dea said.
The Bruins added an 11th, and final first-half score to their tally, when junior Frankie Garcia — who was holding off a defender — converted a right-handed effort that sailed into the net as the buzzer sounded.
Jordan pulled some goals back over the final two quarters — while ending the game on a 4-0 run — but Wilson’s early clinicality essentially had the bout decided by halftime.
Shandrew-Pearsall added a final goal for good measure. She likely could’ve had a couple more, but looked to get teammates involved instead, with the result already ensured.
“We were trying to make that as fun as we could without running up the score,” O’Dea said.
