Long Beach State University Athletics
Beach Soccer Hosts Georgia, Denver in Home-Opening Weekend
8/27/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Georgia (1-0-1) at
Long Beach State (0-1-1)
Date: Friday, Aug. 29
Time: 7 p.m. (PDT)
Location: George Allen Field (1,000) - Long Beach, Calif.
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Denver (0-1-1) at
Long Beach State (0-1-1)
Date: Sunday, Aug. 31
Time: 1 p.m. (PDT)
Location: George Allen Field (1,000) - Long Beach, Calif.
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GAME NOTES: Long Beach State 
| Georgia | Denver
The Long Beach State women's soccer team begins a season-long four-match homestand on Friday, Aug. 29, when it hosts Georgia in its home opener at 7 p.m. The Beach will then entertain Denver at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31. Both games will be played at George Allen Field.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Georgia (1-0-1) opened its season with a 1-1 tie at Ole Miss and a 3-0 victory over UNC Greensboro last weekend. Sophomore midfielder Gabby Seiler led the offense with two goals and one assist, while freshman goalkeeper Louise Hogrell anchored the defense with nine saves and a 0.45 goals against average. The Bulldogs return a total of 17 letterwinners and six starters from a 2013 team that went 12-7-1 overall and advanced to the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament.
SERIES RECORD
LBSU trails in its short series with Georgia, 0-1-0. The two teams met for the first time last year with the Bulldogs edging the 49ers, 1-0, in Athens, Ga.
A GLANCE AT DENVER
Denver (0-1-1) opened its season on the road last weekend, playing Nevada to a 1-1 tie before dropping a 3-2 decision at Colorado College. Freshman midfielder Jocelyn Loomis led the Pioneers with one goal on five attempts. Sophomore goalkeeper Cassidy Rey also recorded seven saves and a 1.80 goals against average. Denver has earned an NCAA Tournament berth in each of the last two years, and advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2012.
SERIES RECORD
This will mark the second meeting between Long Beach State and Denver. The two teams battled to a scoreless draw at the OHANA Hotels & Resorts No Ka Oi Tournament in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Aug. 30, 2008.
KEEP ATTACKING
Although the 49ers did not score in their first two outings, they never stopped pressing. They averaged 10.5 attempts per game and ended up outshooting their opponents, 21-12. Ten of LBSU's 21 shots were on goal.
HOME SWEET HOME
Over the last 10 years, Long Beach State has been dominant at home, compiling an impressive 60-20-14 record (.713) at George Allen Field. The Beach had a program-best 10-1-0 home record in 2011.
TOUGH SCHEDULE
Six of Long Beach State's 11 non-conference opponents were ranked in the NSCAA/Continental Tire Preseason Poll which was released on Aug. 6. The 49ers will face then No. 10 Santa Clara, No. 20 Georgetown, No. 21 Wake Forest, No. 22 BYU, No. 23 UCF and No. 25 Denver. Denver was the only team to drop out of the top-25 following the first week of the season. Both Santa Clara and Wake Forest advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 last year.
MILESTONE IN REACH
The Beach is one win away from the program's 200th victory. Currently in its 21st year, LBSU owns a 199-157-41 overall record. The 49ers fielded a team from 1983-86 and then reinstated the program as a member of the Big West in 1998.
SENIOR LEADER
Senior Taylor Nelson is expected to provide a bulk of the leadership in 2014. The Garden Grove, Calif., native is a four-year starter and two-time All-Big West selection. She was also a member of LBSU's 2011 and 2012 NCAA Tournament teams, helping The Beach make an unprecedented run to the Elite Eight as a true freshman. Nelson tallied one goal and seven assists in her first two seasons as a midfielder. In 2013, she made the switch to center back, guiding the defense to a 1.07 goals against average, while also compiling five points (2 goals, 1 assist).
MIGHTY MOUSE
Although small in stature at 5-foot-2, sophomore Mimi Rangel (Chino, Calif.) has already proven that she plays big. The 2013 Big West Freshman of the Year was a catalyst in a dramatic 3-2 win at nationally-ranked Texas Tech last year, notching the 49ers' first goal of the season, which evened the score at 1-1, before coming back to net the game-winner with two seconds left in regulation. Rangel also scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over No. 11 BYU, had two assists in an overtime win at SEC member Auburn, and found the back of the net twice in a 2-1 triumph at Big West rival UC Irvine. Rangel opened the 2014 campaign with a game-high five shots vs. USC.
FEARLESS FRESHMAN
After her first two collegiate games, freshman forward Ashley Gonzales (Ontario, Calif.) leads The Beach and is tied for fourth in the Big West with six shot attempts. She had a match-high five shots, including three on frame, in a 0-0 tie against No. 15 Georgetown. Gonzales, who was the 2014 CIF Southern Section Division II MVP while at Chino Hills High School, also scored the 49ers' goal in a 1-0 exhibition win vs. CSUN on Aug. 16.
CLEAN SHEET
In her second start of the season, sophomore goalkeeper Ashton McKeown led LBSU to a scoreless draw vs. No. 15 Georgetown. It was her first career shutout. The Huntington Beach, Calif., native finished the USD Tournament with five saves and a 0.45 goals against average.
ON THE GRIND
Junior defender Melanie Fox (Valencia, Calif.) has earned the start in 20 consecutive games dating back to the start of the 2013 season. During that span, she has logged 1,876 minutes, and has helped the squad to five shutouts and a 1.00 goals against average.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
Long Beach State wraps up its four-match homestand next weekend with contests against San Diego (Friday, Sept. 5) and Bakersfield (Sunday, Sept. 7).
