In their final home match of the season, the 49ers were hoping to pull off a huge upset over No. 2 USC on Sunday afternoon, but it wasn’t to be.  Cecilia Canetti and Meaghan Leonard each scored two goals to lead host Long Beach State in a 9-5 loss to the Trojans.

USC jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead before The Beach clawed their way back with two goals of their own by Leonard and Canetti tying the score early in the second period.

The Trojans scored four goals in a row over the second and third periods to take a 6-2 lead before the 49ers scored again on another goal from Leonard.

Krizia Cerda and Canetti each scored goals in the fourth period to round out the scoring for the 49ers. Goalkeeper Kristen Stragier had a game-high 11 saves for the 49ers.  USC’s Michelle Stein led all scorers with four goals.

Seniors Kalina Houck and Keala O’Sullivan played in their last home game of their career and were honored with a ceremony and flowers before the game commemorating their four years as an integral part of the water polo program.

The Beach will be back in action next week at the Big West Tournament which will be held at the campus of Pacific University in Stockton, Calif. on April 24-26.

GOALS BY PERIOD

USC 2 – 3 – 2 – 2

LONG BEACH STATE 1 – 2 – 1 – 2

GOALS

USC – Stein – 4, Dan – 2, Dronberger – 1, Bekhazi – 1, Van Norman – 1

LBSU – Canetti – 2, Leonard – 2, Cerda – 1

SAVES

LBSU – Stragier, 11

USC- van der Meijden, 10

From LBSU reports