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From LBSU reports<\/span><\/p>\n A fourth-quarter rally to within one goal wasn’t enough to get the ‘Niners’ offense going, as they fell 5-3 in a loss to No. 9 UC Irvine in the first round of the Big West Tournament. <\/span>With the loss, the 49ers move to the fifth-place game Sunday against Pacific.<\/p>\n Kristen Stragier did her best to keep things close for the 49ers, finishing with 9 saves and allowing just five goals. <\/span>UC Irvine scored on the first possession of the game after an Long Beach State exclusion, but Heather McKeon answered with 4:40 in the first quarter to tie the game.<\/p>\n Gianna Rossi then began her scoring streak for the Anteaters, putting in a goal in the second and third periods to put UC Irvine ahead 3-1 entering the fourth period.<\/p>\n Another Rossi goal with 3:17 put the Anteaters ahead by three goals. Long Beach State rallied late through, as Krizia Cerda scored with 2:13, and a Kelsie Emerick goal with 1:29 left gave the 49ers a shot. Rossi closed the door though, coming back on the following possession to score an insurance goal with 1:08 in the fourth.<\/p>\n Long Beach State faces host Pacific on Sunday in the fifth-place game in the consolation bracket. That match starts play on Sunday, beginning at 11am.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n