Junior Krizia Cerda scored two fourth-quarter goals, while goaltender Kristen Stragier compiled 14 saves Friday to will the No. 6-seeded Long Beach State women's water polo team to a 4-3 upset over No. 3-host UC Santa Barbara in the first round of the Big West Conference tournament.
Tied at 2 in the fourth, Cerda first scored immediately after LBSU won the sprint before adding another goal following a UCSB ejection with 4:55 remaining.
With a two-goal lead, Stragier notched four more saves in the fourth before Gauchos were able to pull within one with just 25 seconds remaining in the contest.
But it was too little, tool late for UCSB as the ‘Niners held on for the first-round victory.
The 49ers struck early in the contest as Lauren Sieprath scored on the first possession of the game before the Gauchos evened the score at one.
Stragier tallied eight first-half saves as the teams reached halftime tied at 1.
Julia Garyfallou eventually put the 49ers back on top in the third period, but the Gauches answered back with a goal from Kathryn Nelson to head into the final period with score even at 2.
LBSU will move on to play No. 2 Cal State Northridge for a chance to advance to the Big West Tournament championship Saturday at 5:15 p.m. in Santa Barbara.
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