Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State Opens 2015 Campaign Against No. 4 UCLA, Auburn
8/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
UCLA (0-0-0) at
Long Beach State (0-0-0)
Date: Friday, Aug. 21
Time: 7 p.m. (PDT)
Location: George Allen Field (1,000) - Long Beach, Calif.
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Auburn (0-0-0) at
Long Beach State (0-0-0)
Date: Sunday, Aug. 23
Time: 11 a.m. (PDT)
Location: George Allen Field (1,000) - Long Beach, Calif.
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FIRST GOAL
The Long Beach State women's soccer team will be tested right away as it opens the 2015 campaign against fourth-ranked UCLA on Friday, Aug. 21. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. at George Allen Field. The Beach then returns to the pitch on Sunday, Aug. 23, for an 11 a.m. tilt with Auburn, which was receiving votes in the NSCAA Preseason Poll.
SCOUTING THE BRUINS
Two-time defending Pac-12 champion UCLA returns 15 letterwinners, but only two starters, from its 2014 squad that went 21-1-2 and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight. Senior forward Taylor Smith will look to lead the Bruins after ranking second on last year's team with nine goals, including four game-winners. UCLA, which won the national championship in 2013, was ranked fourth in the NSCAA Preseason Poll.
SERIES RECORD
UCLA leads the all-time series, 4-1-0, and won the last meeting at George Allen Field in 2009. The two teams have met only three times (2005, 2006, 2009) since the Beach reinstated its women's soccer program in 1998.
A GLANCE AT AUBURN
Auburn was receiving votes in the NSCAA preseason rankings. The Tigers welcome back 16 letterwinners from a 2014 squad that went 12-7-3 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Sophomore forward Kristen Dodson is the team's top returner as she totaled 16 points with three goals and 10 assists last year.
SERIES RECORD
This marks just the second meeting between Long Beach State and Auburn. The 49ers hold the 1-0 edge in the series as they picked up a 2-1 overtime win on the road on Sept. 15, 2013.
TOUGH SCHEDULE
Five of LBSU's 11 non-conference games will be against teams that were featured in the NSCAA Preseason Rankings. The Beach is set to face No. 4 UCLA, No. 19 BYU and No. 21 DePaul, along with Auburn and USC, which were both receiving votes.
In addition, all but one of the 49ers' non-conference opponents are coming off a winning season. Eight of those teams recorded at least 10 victories with six advancing to the 2014 NCAA Tournament.
BIG WEST PRESEASON POLL
The Beach was picked to finish second in the Big West Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll. They were one of five teams to receive at least one first-place vote and collected 70 points to finish just behind Cal Poly (72). Defending Big West champion Cal State Fullerton wasn't far behind in third with 68 points.
Sophomore forward Ashley Gonzales, junior midfielder Mimi Rangel and junior goalkeeper Ashton McKeown were all named to the Big West Preseason All-Conference Team.
OPENING DAY SUCCESS
Since Long Beach State head coach Mauricio Ingrassia's first year in 2004, the 49ers have posted a 7-4-0 record in season openers, with two of their losses coming against top-15 teams (No. 3 UCLA, No. 14 BYU). Even more impressive is the fact that Ingrassia has led the Beach to a 9-2-0 mark in home openers.
FOR THE RECORD
Junior goalkeeper Ashton McKeown is fourth in school history in shutouts (9), tied for sixth in saves (95) and is seventh in minutes played (2,190). She also enters the season with a career goals against average of 0.95, which ranks fourth.
Senior Elizabeth Lyons begins her final campaign with 11 career assists, which is tied for 10th in program history. Also looking to move up the charts this year are sophomore Ashley Gonzales and junior Mimi Rangel, who are currently tied for eighth with four game-winning goals each.
SENIOR LEADERS
Long Beach State has a solid group of seniors to lead the way in 2015. Melanie Fox will continue to anchor the defense as she has started all but one game at center back over the last two seasons. In 2014, she ranked second on the team with 1,882 minutes played and helped the 49ers to a Big West leading 0.80 goals against average.
Midfielders Marie MacKenzie, Val Margerum and Hannah Sanders have also combined to play in 119 games at the Beach. Margerum started 20 games as a defensive midfielder last year, finishing with one assist and nine shots, while Sanders and MacKenzie each tallied one goal.
Forwards Vania Robles and Elizabeth Lyons have also provided a spark up front. In her first season with the 49ers in 2014, Robles found the back of the net four times. Lyons also has four goals and 11 assists in her three years at LBSU.
MIGHTY MOUSE
Junior midfielder Mimi Rangel has been a force to be reckoned with since she first stepped onto the pitch at George Allen Field as a freshman in 2013. She has started every game during her time at the Beach, amassing eight goals, 10 assists, 26 points and 82 shot attempts. Rangel is the reigning Big West Midfielder of the Year and is a two-time first-team all-conference selection. In addition, she was named to the 2014 NSCAA All-West Region Second Team, while also being tabbed the 2013 Big West Freshman of the Year.
RANGEL SELECTED BY TOP DRAWER SOCCER
Mimi Rangel was named to Top Drawer Soccer's preseason Top 100 list as she comes in at No. 72. Rangel is the highest ranked player from the Big West Conference in the preseason poll by Top Drawer Soccer.
MCKEOWN ON THE RISE
Junior keeper Ashton McKeown had a breakout season last year. After playing in just two games as a freshman, McKeown worked hard to come back and earn the starting role, playing every minute in between the posts for the Beach in 2014. She compiled a Big West leading nine shutouts, 0.80 goals against average and 91 saves to earn the league's goalkeeper of the year award.
SUPER SOPHOMORE
There isn't much more Ashley Gonzales could have accomplished as a true freshman last year, but she will look to build on her strong start to her collegiate career. In 2014, she was a Soccer America Freshman All-American, NSCAA All-West Region selection, All-Big West honoree and the Big West Freshman of the Year. Gonzales led the Beach with nine goals and 20 points. Her nine goals were the most by a first-year 49er since Kim Silos had 10 in 2005. She also became the first freshman in conference history to win back-to-back Big West Player of the Week honors.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
Long Beach State returns to George Allen Field next weekend when it entertains Iowa State (Aug. 28) and Bucknell (Aug. 30).
