Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State University
6-6-3, 2-1-2BWC
Hawai'i
9-3-2, 2-2-1BWC
Beach Holds Hawai'i To Scoreless Draw
10/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
WAIPAHU, Hawai'i - Long Beach State earned a crucial road draw in the islands late Friday night, holding the Rainbow Wahine scoreless in a 0-0 tie on the road at Hawai'i.
A cohesive defensive effort helped Long Beach State (6-6-3, 2-1-2 Big West) pick up an important away point in a tight conference race, as LBSU became the first team this season to shut out Hawai'i in 14 games.
The Rainbow Wahine came into Friday's contest having scored 1.63 goals per game, and had found the net in every game at in 2016, including scoring multiple goals in over half of their games on the island, but Long Beach State was equal to every challenge on the day.
Despite taking 18 total shots, Hawai'i (9-3-2, 2-2-1 Big West) was only able to put six on target, and Ashton McKeown turned all six away, making six saves to record her 23rd career shutout and the fifth of the season for the senior, who passed Jihan Elgazzar for second-place all-time in saves at the Beach.
Over the course of the match, Long Beach State was able to work its way into nine corner kicks, including five in the first corner, but the Beach were unable to break through against Hawai'i. Meanwhile, the Beach defense was outstanding, holding Hawai'i to three shots in the first half and then answering the call the rest of the way.
McKeown was able to save the only shot on target from the Rainbow Wahine in overtime in the second portion of extra time, maintaining the shutout and preserving a point that helps keep the Beach in position to reach the Big West Tournament at the end of the season on the road.
Long Beach State is back in action next Friday as the four-game road swing for the 49ers continues. The Beach will play UC Davis on the road at 3 p.m. on Friday, October 21 in the next competition for the team.
