In the last game of the regular season, the Long Beach State’s women’s water polo team lost to UC Irvine 13-8, Thursday night in Irvine.
Despite Long Beach goalie Kim Hayes’ six saves in the first quarter and 12 saves for the game, UCI goalie Lauren Machanis created a larger problem for The Beach with 13 saves.
Offensively, LBSU’s Megan Winchell and Jackie Pride both had four goals in the loss.
In the first period, the Anteaters jumped out to a 7-3 lead. The 49ers made a comeback, scoring four goals in the second period. But UC Irvine locked up the win, scoring three consecutive goals early in the second half.
“We had a difficult time coming out in the first half,” said LBSU head coach Catharine von Schwarz. “We ended up feeling out [the match] in the first half and [our players] aren’t sure if they can do it, so they wait to see if they can do it in the second half, and by then it is too late.”
LBSU will conclude its season in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament, which starts Friday at Arizona State. LBSU (7-16, 3-9) is the No. 10 seed in the tournament and UC Irvine (17-10, 4-8) is the No. 9 seed.
“It’s do or die. You lose, you’re out,” von Schwarz said. “We have to win every game.”
In the last three years, the women’s water polo team has transitioned through three coaches. Von Schwarz is ending her first year as coach. She also expressed understanding to adapting to yet another coach.
“It takes more than six to nine months to adapt to and learn a system,” von Schwarz said. “I get more upset that they are not going hard and intense than [if] they are doing the systems correctly.”
The 49ers will be the No. 10 seed in the MPSF Tournament.
