LBSU report:
Behind a hat trick from sophomore Lauren Sieprath, the 17th-ranked Long Beach State women’s water polo team defeated No. 19 Cal State Bakersfield in non-conference action Sunday afternoon at the 49er Campus Pool. With the win, The Beach improves to 7-12, while the Roadrunners drop to 13-10.
In addition to Sieprath, five other 49ers found their way into the scoring column. Senior Keala O’Sullivan, junior Cecilia Canetti, sophomore Kelsie Emerick and freshmen Krizia Cerda and Heather McKeon all tallied one goal apiece. Sophomore goalkeeper Kristen Stragier, meanwhile, anchored a strong defensive effort for LBSU with seven saves.
CS Bakersfield won the initial sprint and scored on its first possession as Amanda Ortiz converted a penalty shot at the 7:42 mark, but Long Beach State quickly responded with Sieprath netting her first goal just 29 seconds later. Canetti then gave the 49ers their first lead of the day as she banked a shot off the far post with 4:57 to play. The Roadrunners eventually scored the final goal of the first quarter to even the playing field at 2-2.
After nearly four minutes of scoreless action to open the second period, McKeon put The Beach back on top, skipping a shot past CSUB goalkeeper Veronica Campbell. The Roadrunners tied it up once again, but Sieprath found the back of the net with 1:03 remaining to give LBSU a 4-3 advantage at the break.
The 49ers came out firing in the third frame, outscoring CS Bakersfield, 3-1. CSUB’s Becky Seelos opened the action with a goal to knot the score at 4-4, but the 49ers responded again with Sieprath completing her hat trick on a 6-on-5 opportunity at the 3:31 mark. O’Sullivan and Emerick tacked on one more tally each before the end of the quarter, putting LBSU ahead 7-4.
In the final eight minutes, Cerda gave the 49ers a four-goal advantage as she scored with just over six minutes to play. The Roadrunners tried to mount a comeback midway through the period but it wasn’t enough as Long Beach State came away with the 8-6 victory.
Ortiz led Cal State Bakersfield with three goals, while Campbell recorded seven saves.
The Beach will be back in action on Saturday, March 28, when it welcomes top-ranked Stanford to the 49er Campus Pool for a noon (PT) showdown.
CSUB 2-1-1-2 : 6
LBSU 2-2-3-1 : 8
Goals
CSUB: Oritz 3, Torres, McKenzie, Seelos
LBSU: Sieprath 3, Canetti, McKeon, O’Sullivan, Emerick, Cerda
Saves
CSUB: Campbell-7
LBSU: Stragier-7