Freshman Fatmata Kamara scored the golden goal in the 95th minute to lift Long Beach State to a 1-0 overtime win against Bucknell Sunday afternoon at George Allen Field.

The Beach completed the weekend sweep, improving to 3-1-0 overall, while the Bison dropped to 1-2-1 on the season.

LBSU once again controlled the match, owning a lopsided advantage in shots (18-3), shots on goal (9-0) and corner kicks (13-1). The 49ers, who were on the brink of scoring throughout the match, finally broke through at the 94:37 mark when Kamara took a free kick from about 20 yards out and drilled a shot to the far post for her first collegiate goal.

Kamara finished with three attempts, while junior Mimi Rangel had a game-high five, including four on frame. Junior goalkeeper Ashton McKeown picked up her second shutout of the year and the 11th of her career.

“We found an opponent that was content to sit in and counter, and they did a good job,” Long Beach State head coach Mauricio Ingrassia said. “We had a few injuries that we were dealing with today, including one to our go-to forward. We had to find a way to score and we knew we just had to get one. I’m very happy for Fatmata to get her first goal, she has worked very hard to get to this point.”

Bucknell took the first shot of the game at the 12:32 mark, but that was all they would get in the first half as the Beach fired off six unanswered shots, to go along with four corner kicks before the break.

Rangel had one of LBSU’s best opportunities in the 31st minute when she had a wide-open look from eight yards out, but a Bison defender was able to knock the ball away from the goal line. Three minutes later, freshman Rocio Rodriguez had a solid header shot off a corner kick that went right into the hands of Bucknell goalkeeper Jessica Ratner.

The Beach turned it up a notch in the second half, outshooting the visitors 11-to-2. Ratner had to make numerous diving saves in order to withstand the constant pressure from the 49ers and force the extra period.

Long Beach State came out on a mission in overtime, getting its season-high 13th corner kick of the game in the first 37 seconds. Two minutes later, Rangel drew a foul at the top of the box, and that was when Kamara stepped up to drill a shot off the left post and into the goal.

Ratner finished with seven saves for Bucknell. The Bison were forced to play a man down when Kelsey Witt was dealt her second yellow card in the 75th minute.

The Beach returns to action on Friday, Sept. 4, when it heads to San Diego for its first road match of the season. Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m.

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