Beach Women's Soccer Falls at UC Irvine, 2-0

Sunday, October 18

Irvine, Calif.

6:00 PM

Long Beach State University

8-5-3, 3-2-0

UC Irvine

6-8-1, 2-2-0

Long Beach State

UC Irvine

10/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Oct. 18, 2015

Box Score

IRVINE, Calif. - The Long Beach State women's soccer team controlled possession for most of the match but was unable to find the finishing touch as it fell to UC Irvine, 2-0, Sunday evening at Anteater Stadium.

The final result did not indicate the momentum of the game as LBSU won the battle in shots (14-9) and corner kicks (6-0). The 49ers also had two goals taken back on offsides calls.

The Beach (8-5-3, 3-2-0 Big West) was without the services of starting keeper Ashton McKeown, who was sidelined with an injury. Sophomore Cynthia Diaz earned her first career start, notching one save and allowing one goal. Freshman Imani McDonald played the final 45 minutes in between the pipes, giving up one goal and making two saves.

Sophomore Ashley Gonzales led the Long Beach State offense with a team-high four shots. Junior Mimi Rangel added three attempts, including two on frame.

LBSU spent most of the first half in the attacking third and ended up outshooting UC Irvine, 6-2. Gonzales nearly found the back of the net in the 14th minute when her shot from the top of the box was tipped by UCI keeper Corey Tobin before ricocheting off the crossbar. Senior Vania Robles was there to tap in the rebound, but she was offsides on the play.

Robles had another good look at the 29:39 mark when her line drive attempt was caught by Tobin.

UC Irvine (6-8-1, 2-2-0 Big West) then struck in the 34th minute with Andrea Mensen's cross from the left side of the box deflecting off Diaz's hands and past the goal line. The Beach pushed for the equalizer with three corner kicks and four shots before the end of the half.

The 49ers continued to press after the break as they started the second period with a corner kick and header shot by senior Melanie Fox that went just wide of the right post. Rangel then had an opportunity from the top of the box at the 62:03 mark, but her attempt was a one-hopper right at Tobin. UC Irvine responded by pushing up the field quickly, and they ended up taking a 2-0 lead just 50 seconds later when Kiana Palacios sent a shot to the upper right corner.

It appeared as if Long Beach State had cut the deficit in half when freshman Fatmata Kamara's header made its way to the back of the net, but for the second time of the night, the goal was waved off on an offsides call.

Palacios finished with a game-high five shots for the Anteaters, while Tobin totaled five saves.

Long Beach State will stay on the road this week as it heads to CSUN for a 7 p.m. game on Thursday, Oct. 22. The Beach then returns to the friendly confines of George Allen Field to host Hawai'i at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25.