 "Photo: Patrice Ewell | Daily 49er")
The Long Beach State women's water polo team gave No. 10-ranked UC Irvine quite a scare on Senior Night, but the Anteaters rallied in the second half to squeak by the 49ers, 8-7, in Thursday's season-finale at the Campus Pool.
The loss dropped the ‘Niners (12-16, 1-4 Big West Conference) to the sixth seed in the Big West Conference Tournament where they will face third-seeded UC Santa Barbara in the first round at the UCSB Campus Pool next Friday.
The 49ers split two meetings against the Gauchos this season. LBSU won 5-2 in the Triton Invitational before losing, 8-7, at home during conference play.
Despite opening the postseason against the tournament host, the 49ers remain confident that they can pull off the upset.
"I know it's going to be hard just because we're going to be in their pool," LBSU senior goalkeeper Kristen Stragier said. "I know if we play hard, we can beat them."
With the win, UCI (19-8, 5-0 Big West) became the first women's water polo team in Big West history to go undefeated through conference play.
"Our goal going into the season was to get a first-round bye in the Big West Tournament," Anteaters head coach Dan Klatt said after his team pulled out the one-goal victory.
UCI and Cal State Northridge finished first and second in the Big West, respectively, to ensure a first round bye in the conference tournament.
Meanwhile, senior Lauren Sieprath and sophomore Melissa Matheson each tallied two goals for the 49ers, while the Anteaters received two goals from senior Cortney Collyer and sophomore Jessy Cardey, respectively.
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