Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State University
CSUN
Garyfallou lifts LBSU to 11-8 victory over Cal State Northridge
4/17/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
April 17, 2011
LONG BEACH - Freshman Julia Garyfallou scored four goals to lift the Long Beach State women's water polo team to its first Big West victory of the season as the 49ers defeated Cal State Northridge, 11-8, Sunday afternoon at the Campus Pool.
In addition to Garyfallou's four goals, sophomore Melissa Matheson registered a hat trick, while freshman Coriann Snyder scored twice. Seniors Meaghan Leonard and Lauren Sieprath also found the back of the net for LBSU.
Senior goalkeeper Kristen Stragier anchored the defense with seven saves.
Cal State Northridge (21-13, 3-2 BWC) took a 1-0 advantage just 30 seconds into the game before Long Beach State responded on its ensuing possession with a goal by Matheson at the 7:10 mark. The Matadors would go back up by one, but the 49ers answered again as Leonard tied it up and then Garyfallou scored from long distance to give the home team their first lead of the day. CSUN found the back of the net with 32 ticks on the clock to even the game at 3-3.
The 49ers (12-15, 1-3 BWC) rallied in the second quarter to take a lead that it would not relinquish. Snyder netted back-to-back goals before Garyfallou scored at the 3:11 mark to give LBSU a 6-3 advantage. Lyndsy Nelson closed the gap to two at intermission as she scored for CSUN with 1:41 remaining.
Long Beach State continued to pour on the offense after the break with three unanswered goals to start the third frame. Matheson found the back of the net at the 6:14 mark before Garyfallou netted her third and fourth goals of the day from the right wing to put LBSU on top, 9-4. Sieprath would eventually convert on a power play to give the 49ers a 10-5 edge heading into the fourth quarter.
The Matadors threatened in the final stanza, cutting the deficit to three (10-7) with six minutes to play. Matheson stopped the Northridge run as she completed her hat trick at the 4:35 mark. CSUN would tack on one more but LBSU was able to shut the visitors down over the final three minutes to hold on for the 11-8 win.
Whitney Delgado and Nelson paced Cal State Northridge with two goals apiece.
Long Beach State will host UC Irvine in its regular-season finale at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 21.
CSUN 3-1-1-3 -- 8LBSU 3-3-4-1 -- 11
CSUN Goals: Delgado 2, Nelson 2, Doll, Janke, Pettinger, Sonoda.
LBSU Goals: Garyfallou 4, Matheson 3, Snyder 2, Leonard, Sieprath.
CSUN Saves: Harvey 6LBSU Saves: Stragier 7
