Chelsea Parks scored the game-winning goal in double-overtime, while senior goaltender Kristen Stragier stopped a penalty shot in overtime as the No. 6-seeded Long Beach State women’s water polo team’s magical run in the Big West Conference tournament continued with a 7-6 semifinal victory over No. 2 Cal State Northridge.
The victory marked the third time the 49ers (14-16) defeated CSUN (21-15) this season, and advanced to the Big West tournament championship game where they will face No. 1 UC Irvine for an opportunity to earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
With 2:13 remaining in overtime, Stragier made her biggest save of the match, stopping a penalty shot, while on the ensuing possession, Parks scored the only goal in the two overtime periods as the 49ers held on for the win.
The match was tight throughout, as the teams equaled goals after each period in regulation. Lauren Sieprath got the 49ers on the board, while the Matadors evened the score with a goal in the final minute of the first.
After each team scored a goal in the second period, the Matadors took a 4-3 lead with two unanswered goals.
However, LBSU took back the lead with a goal from Melissa Matheson in the third.
Whitney Delgado answered with her third goal for CSUN with 1:40 in the period to tie the game at 5-5 heading into the fourth period.
CSUN again took the lead at 6-5 with a goal from Melissa Doll with just 2:36 to play in regulation, but Melissa Matheson converted on a penalty shot in the next minute to tie the game and send into overtime.
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