The Long Beach State women’s soccer team scored in the first 10 minutes and the final 10 minutes to defeat Big 12 member Iowa State, 2-1, Friday evening at George Allen Field.

 

Freshman Rocio Rodriguez recorded her first collegiate goal at the 5:49 mark, giving her LBSU’s fastest tally since Renee Mendiola found the back of the net just over four minutes into the Cal Poly game on Oct. 7, 2012. Sophomore Jessica Vincent and senior Melanie Fox were both credited with an assist on the play.

 

Sophomore Ashley Gonzales then notched her second goal of the season, and her sixth career game-winner, on a penalty kick in the 81st minute. Rodriguez had pulled away from her defender inside the box where she drew the foul that led to the PK opportunity.

 

“It was a good performance against a team that is very physical and athletic,” Long Beach State head coach Mauricio Ingrassia said. “I felt like we got better with the game, we figured some things out. I really enjoyed large stretches of our second half. We deservedly went up a second goal and then got scored on off a set which made the last couple minutes interesting, but I think it was a well-earned result.”

 

The Beach looked dominant for most of the match, winning the battle in shots (16-8) and corner kicks (4-1). Rodriguez finished with a team-high three attempts, two of which were on frame. Junior Celeste Dominguez and sophomore Allie Emmons also had two shots each. Junior Ashton McKeown compiled four saves in the win.

 

The 49ers improved to 2-1-0 on the young season, while they handed the Cyclones (2-1-0) their first loss of the year.

 

Long Beach State took control early, outshooting Iowa State, 8-2, in the first half. LBSU went up 1-0 in the sixth minute of play as Vincent started the sequence with a free kick into the box where Fox got a foot on it in a crowd of players. The ball then found Rodriguez, who deposited it into the lower right corner.

 

It went back-and-forth early in the second period before the Beach regained control with six unanswered shots and three corner kicks over an 18-minute span. The final shot was the penalty kick that Gonzales calmly placed in the lower left corner to give the 49ers a 2-0 lead (80:11).

 

The Cyclones responded just 3:25 later, breaking up Long Beach State’s shutout bid with Lauren Roeling’s header goal off a free kick. Iowa State had two more opportunities over the final six minutes, but the LBSU defense stayed strong, allowing the home team to emerge with the 2-1 victory.

 

Koree Willer had three of Iowa State’s eight shots, while goalkeeper Lindsey Hendon finished with six saves.

 

The Beach returns to George Allen Field on Sunday, Aug. 30, when it entertains Bucknell at noon.