Gonzales Leads 49ers Past Bakersfield, 2-0

September 7, 2014

LONG BEACH – Freshman Ashley Gonzales registered her second multiple-goal game to lead the 23rd-ranked Long Beach State women’s soccer team past Bakersfield, 2-0, Sunday evening at George Allen Field.

LBSU, which is unbeaten in its last five outings, improved to 3-1-2 on the year.

Gonzales finished with a game-high seven attempts and scored both of the 49ers goals, marking her third and fourth of the season. Sophomore Mimi Rangel added three shots and an assist, while classmates Shea Hoover and Mimi Akaogi were also credited with an assist. The Beach outshot the Roadrunners, 18-4, and held a 5-1 edge in corner kicks.

Sophomore goalkeeper Ashton McKeown notched two saves in her second consecutive shutout.

Long Beach State came out of the gates attacking with five shots, including three on frame, in the first nine minutes. Gonzales eventually dented the scoreboard at the 22:33 mark. She took a through pass from Rangel and beat the goalkeeper before finishing to an open net for the early lead. LBSU owned an 11-to-2 advantage in shot attempts at the end of the first half.

The Beach picked up right where it left off in the second period as Gonzales nearly struck again in the 48th minute. The Ontario, Calif., native had the keeper beat, but there was pressure coming from three defenders and her shot ricocheted off the post. Junior Marie MacKenzie also had a solid attempt from the top of the box that went just over the crossbar in the 58th minute.

Gonzales would go on to pick up her second goal of the night at the 82:02 mark. Akaogi started the play by serving the ball into the middle of the box, where Hoover was able to tap it past her defender to a streaking Gonzales. Gonzales then beat the goalkeeper in another one-on-one situation to give the 49ers the 2-0 cushion.

Bakersfield (0-5-1) had four players finish with one shot each. Goalkeeper Tori Ornela led the defensive effort for the Roadrunners with eight saves.

Long Beach State returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 13, when it heads to Provo, Utah, for a 6 p.m. (PT) showdown against BYU.