Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State Travels to Cincinnati, No. 21/20 DePaul
9/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Long Beach State (4-2-2) at
Cincinnati (5-2-1)
Date: Thursday, Sept. 17
Time: 5 p.m. (ET) / 2 p.m. (PT)
Location: Gettler Stadium (1,400) - Cincinnati, Ohio
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Long Beach State (4-2-2) at
No. 21/20 DePaul (6-1-1)
Date: Sunday, Sept. 20
Time: 12 p.m. (CT) / 10 a.m. (PT)
Location: Wish Field (1,000) - Chicago, Ill.
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Game Notes: Long Beach State 
| Cincinnati | DePaul
FIRST GOAL
Long Beach State embarks on its only regular-season out-of-state road trip this weekend as the 49ers are set to face Cincinnati at 5 p.m. (ET)/2 p.m. (PT) on Thursday, Sept. 17, before making their way to Chicago, Ill., for a 12 p.m. (CT)/10 a.m. (PT) showdown at No. 21 DePaul on Sunday, Sept. 20.
BEACH TIDBITS
• Long Beach State has registered five shutouts in eight games.
• LBSU's 0.34 goals against average ranks first in the Big West and ninth in the nation.
• The Beach has allowed only three goals, including just one over its last five outings (501:40).
• The 49ers have not given up a first-half goal this season.
• Long Beach State has already played five overtime games, which is two shy of the school record (7).
• The Beach tied a program single-game record in goals scored (6) and margin of victory (6-0) vs. Portland State on Sept. 6.
• Senior center back Melanie Fox found the back of the net three times vs. Portland State, marking the 49ers' first hat trick since 2012.
• Junior Mimi Rangel ranks among the Long Beach State career leaders in assists (T10th, 11), game-winning goals (9th, 4) and shot attempts (9th, 100).
• Junior Ashton McKeown has been the 49ers' starting keeper in every game and is among the conference leaders in GAA (0.36), shutouts (4.5) and save percentage (.889).
IN THE RANKINGS
LBSU dropped out of the top-25, but was still receiving votes (28th) in this week's NSCAA National Poll. The 49ers, who previously came in at No. 23, have been featured in the national rankings in four of the last five seasons. The Beach was also third in the NSCAA West Region rankings.
DOMINGUEZ NETS BIG WEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Junior Celeste Dominguez (Long Beach, Calif.) was named the Big West Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, Sept. 14. It was the first career honor for Dominguez, and the third for Long Beach State this season. Dominguez was the centerpiece of a defensive effort that yielded only nine shots on frame and one goal at LMU and USC. She started and played 188 minutes as the 49ers' defensive center midfielder. Against the Trojans, Dominguez had the tough task of marking Notre Dame transfer and two-time Gatorade National High School Player of the Year Morgan Andrews. She stepped up to that challenge, not letting Andrews get a single shot on goal.
SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
Cincinnati (5-2-1) is riding a three-game win streak after defeating Saint Francis, 2-0, and Duquesne, 3-2, last week. Senior midfielder Danielle Rotheram has provided most of the Bearcats' offense with six goals, including three game-winners. Senior Sam Pavlika and junior Natalie Smith have split time at the keeper position, combining for 31 saves, four shutouts and a 0.73 goals against average.
SERIES RECORD
Long Beach State leads in its short series with Cincinnati, 1-0-0. The two teams' only meeting came in Long Beach on Sept. 6, 2013. Elizabeth Lyons led the Beach to a 4-1 victory, notching one goal and a career-best three assists.
A GLANCE AT DEPAUL
No. 21/20 DePaul (6-1-1) bounced back from its first loss of the season with a 2-0 win over Western Michigan and a 1-0 victory at Central Michigan last weekend. Senior forward Elise Wyatt leads the Blue Demons with six goals and two assists, while sophomore midfielder Alexa Ben also has four goals and two assists. Senior Alejandria Godinez has seen most of the action in between the posts with a 0.54 goals against average and four shutouts.
SERIES RECORD
This will be the first meeting between Long Beach State and DePaul.
TOUGH SCHEDULE
Six of LBSU's 11 non-conference opponents have been featured in the NSCAA Top-25 Poll at least once this season. The Beach has already faced and defeated then No. 4 UCLA. They also played USC, which has been ranked as high as 15th, and San Diego (receiving votes) to a pair of double-overtime draws on the road. Long Beach State posted a shutout in all three of those matches. The 49ers have also played Auburn, which is currently No. 14 in the country, and will go up against DePaul (No. 21) and BYU (No. 8) in the upcoming weeks.
In addition, all but one of LBSU's non-conference adversaries are coming off a winning season. Eight of those teams recorded at least 10 victories with six advancing to the 2014 NCAA Tournament.
DEFENSIVE MINDED
Long Beach State has consistently been one of the top defensive teams in the Big West, and more recently, in the nation. This year, the 49ers lead the conference and rank ninth in all of NCAA Division I with a 0.34 goals against average.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
Long Beach State returns to the friendly confines of George Allen Field to face No. 8/9 BYU in its non-conference finale on Saturday, Sept. 26. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. (PDT).
