Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State University
5-5-3, 1-1-0BWC
UC Santa Barbara
6-5-2, 0-2-0BWC
Beach Soccer Blanks UC Santa Barbara, 2-0
10/5/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
LONG BEACH - The Long Beach State women's soccer team picked up its first Big West victory in dominating fashion as it blanked UC Santa Barbara, 2-0, Sunday evening at George Allen Field.
Sophomore Ashton McKeown had three saves en route to her fourth shutout of the season. Junior Vania Robles netted the game-winning goal in the 17th minute, while freshman Ashley Gonzales also converted on a penalty kick in the second half. Gonzales added a game-high six shots. As a team, the 49ers finished with 11 attempts, seven of which were on frame.
LBSU (5-5-3, 1-1-0 BWC) picked up its fifth-straight win in its all-time series with the Gauchos.
UC Santa Barbara (6-5-2, 0-2-0 BWC) took the early momentum with three shots, including one that hit the post, in the first 10 minutes of action. The Beach quickly turned the tables, starting with back-to-back attempts from junior Hannah Sanders and Gonzales. Robles then gave Long Beach State a 1-0 lead at the 16:56 mark when she connected for her third goal of the season.
The sequence started with Sanders finding sophomore Mimi Rangel on the right side of the pitch. Rangel then chipped it over the defense to Robles, whose initial point-blank attempt was deflected to the left side of the box on a diving save by UCSB goalkeeper Beth Ritter. Robles didn't let up and it paid off as she made a sliding play to beat Ritter to the ball. Robles quickly got up and cut toward the goal before depositing it to the back of the net.
The 49ers continued to control the game in the second period and tacked on an insurance goal in the 82nd minute when Gonzales was taken down in the box. Gonzales calmly stepped up to take the penalty kick and put the game out of reach with her team-leading sixth goal of the season. Gonzales nearly added one more at the 84:34 mark, but Ritter made another diving stop in a one-on-one situation. Ritter finished the night with five saves for UC Santa Barbara.
Long Beach State continues its Big West schedule on Thursday, Oct. 9, when it makes the short trip to Cal State Fullerton for a 5:30 p.m. tilt.
Team Stats
Robles, Vania (3)
Rebound off own shot
16:56
Gonzales, Ashley (6)
LBSU Gonzales, Ashley PENALTY KICK GOAL, goal number 6 for season.
81:25
