Long Beach State University
Bucknell
No. 15 Long Beach State Takes Down Bucknell
3/16/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
Long Beach, Calif. - Long Beach State was back at home on Thursday night looking to bounce back after a loss to No. 8 Hawai'i to open conference play. The Beach did just that as the offense came alive in the second half en route to an 8-4 victory over unranked Bucknell.
LBSU got on the scoreboard just a little over a minute into the game thanks to an Alexandra Massier goal from the inside off a nice assist from Tori Morrissey. But that would be the only goal the Beach would score in the period and Bucknell would strike late in the first to even the score at 1-1 going into the second.
Long Beach State was again the first on the scoreboard in the second as Jackie Stanger scored what was maybe the most beautiful goal of the season for the Beach. The senior got the ball in the five-meter area and zipped a no-look, backhand shot into the cage to give LBSU the 2-1 advantage with 4:29 remaining in the first half. Annabel Harman would score about a minute later on a goal from the perimeter that just snuck past the goalkeeper. Bucknell would add its second goal later in the quarter as Long Beach State led 3-2 at the break.
Daniela Screnci got the offense rolling in the third period as she poured in a shot from the perimeter off a nice feed from her senior counterpart Jackie Stanger. With 1:14 left in the period, Virginia Smith scored from the inside to give the Beach a 5-2 advantage. The Bison would score with only 36 seconds remaining in the third to pull within two heading into the final period.
It was all Long Beach State in the fourth. Christina Kotsia scored twice and Alexandra Massier would add her second goal of the game as the Beach went on to win 8-4 to move back above the .500 mark (8-7, 0-1 Big West).
Goalie Eirini Patras finished with nine saves and three steals.
Weekend Schedule @ Loyola Marymount Invitational
Tomorrow:
10:30 a.m. -- vs. Whittier
3 p.m. -- vs. No. 6 Michigan
Saturday:
9:15 a.m. -- vs. Pomona-Pitzer
2:15 p.m. -- vs. George Washington
No. 15 Long Beach State - 1, 2, 2, 3 | 8
Bucknell - 1, 1, 1, 1 | 4
Goals:
Long Beach State: Kotsia 2, Massier 2, Harman, Screnci, Smith, Stanger
Bucknell: Barron, Considine, Lintz, Mooney
Saves:
Long Beach State: Patras 9
Bucknell: Herrera 6
