LBSU Defeats UC Davis, 1-0
DAVIS, Calif. - The Long Beach State women's soccer team picked up its second-straight shutout to complete a perfect week on the road with a 1-0 victory over UC Davis Sunday afternoon at Aggie Soccer Field.
"It was another solid performance by our team without conceding a goal," LBSU head coach Mauricio Ingrassia said. "This was a very difficult Sunday road match given our travel schedule and the toughness of our opponent on their home field. After a week on the road, we are looking forward to returning to Southern California."
The Beach, which was coming off a 2-0 triumph at Hawai'i on Thursday, notched the only goal of the day on a penalty kick from freshman Ashley Gonzales in the 23rd minute. It was her team-leading seventh goal, and third game-winner, of the season.
Long Beach State is now unbeaten in its last five outings (3-0-2). It improved to 7-5-5 overall and 3-1-2 in Big West action. With two regular-season games remaining, the 49ers are third in the conference standings with 11 points. They are one point behind Cal Poly and CSUN, who are currently tied for first. CSUN will host Cal State Fullerton tonight at 6 p.m. The top four teams advance to the Big West Tournament in San Luis Obispo.
LBSU outshot the home team, 12-7, and also held a 4-0 edge in corner kicks. Gonzales led the offense with one goal on a game-high four attempts, while sophomore Ashton McKeown anchored the defense with three saves. McKeown, the reigning Big West Defensive Player of the Week, earned her fourth shutout in the last five contests.
The Beach took control from the opening whistle, coming out with eight unanswered shots. They didn't allow UC Davis to get its first look until the 38th minute. The 49ers would go up 1-0 at the 22:43 mark after the Aggies were called for a foul inside their own 18-yard box. Gonzales stepped up to take her third penalty kick of the year and drilled a shot just out of UCD keeper Taylor Jern's reach and to the back of the net. Long Beach State finished the first half with a dominating 10-to-1 advantage in shot attempts.
LBSU continued to put up a wall in the defensive third, keeping a desperate Aggie team off the board in the second period. All three of McKeown's saves came in the final 45 minutes. The 49ers recorded their second-straight shutout and have allowed only one goal over the last 490 minutes played.
UC Davis (4-10-3, 1-3-2 Big West) was paced by Lexi Popoff's three shots, two of which were on target. Jern also finished with three saves for the Aggies.
Long Beach State will now return home to host Big West-leading CSUN on Thursday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. It will be the 49ers' Senior Night as they will honor Taylor Nelson, Natalie Zeenni, Kaci McCain and Matisse Hemingway prior to the match.
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