Long Beach State University
USC
49ers hang tough but eventually fall to No. 2 USC
2/18/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
Feb. 18, 2011
Long Beach, Calif. - Junior Krizia Cerda scored five goals to keep Long Beach State close, but a 4-0 start for USC proved to be the difference in a 14-10 loss in the team's home opener. Cerda's five goals tied a career high for the junior.
The 49ers also received great goaltending from Kristen Stragier, who stopped 11 shots including a penalty shot by Nadia Dan in the loss.
The Women of Troy broke out to a quick start, scoring the first four goals of the match, moving ahead 4-0 over the first six minutes of the game. Long Beach State scored three goals in the final 1:37 of the first half to cut the USC lead to two following the first period at 5-3.
USC outscored the 49ers once again in the second period, scoring four goals while the 49ers were limited to the first two of Cerda's goals in the second period.
The rest of the game featured strong defense from the 49ers as each team matched the other in the second half. USC scored four goals in the third period to extend its lead by one goal at 13-8 at the end, but Cerda scored twice more in the third period.
In the fourth, the 49ers pulled back the margin, as Coriann Snyder scored with 4:30 remaining, and Cerda added her fifth with 2:13 to get the 49ers to within three at 13-10. USC tallied the final goal in the last two minutes, scoring with 1:57 left in the game to account for the final tally on a rainy day at the Campus Pool.
No. 2 USC - 5, 4, 4, 1 | 14
No. 12 Long Beach State - 3, 2, 3, 2 | 10
Goals
USC: Patricia Jansco 3, Joelle Bekhazi 2, Nadia Dan 2, Dominique Sardo, Kristen Dronberger, Constance Hiller, Coleen McCall , Blair Moody, Colleen O'Donnell
Long Beach State: Krizia Cerda 5, Julia Garyfallou, Meaghan Leonard, Melissa Matheson, Lauren Sieprath
Saves
USC: Flora Bolonyai 6
Long Beach State: Kristen Stragier, 11
