Long Beach State University Athletics
Beach Soccer Hosts UC Irvine In Big West Championship Sunday
11/4/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Long Beach, Calif. -
Complete Championship Game Notes 
BEACH SOCCER HOSTS UC IRVINE IN BIG WEST CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY
The season comes down to the Black and Blue Rivalry, as Long Beach State hosts UC Irvine in the Big West Tournament finals on Sunday for the opportunity to represent the conference in the NCAA Tournament. The game will be held at George Allen Field at 1 p.m., and will be televised live on Fox Sports Prime Ticket.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
Long Beach State has reached the Big West Finals for the sixth time in the last nine seasons, and the 49ers can clinch their second straight NCAA Tournament berth with a victory. The Beach is looking to make the tournament for the sixth time in the last nine seasons.
THE BRIGHT LIGHTS
Mark Rogondino and Eric Wynalda will be on the call for Fox Sports Prime Ticket on Sunday, with Courtney Sweet on the sidelines. Additionally, live scoring will be available at www.beachlivestats.com.
ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS
Six Long Beach State players were recognized as All-Big West by the conference this week, and three 49ers earned top honors. Ashley Gonzales was named the Offensive Player of the Year, Mimi Rangel was selected as the Midfielder of the Year for the second time, while Chloe Froment was picked as the Freshman of the Year, as a LBSU player earned the honor for the third time in the last four years. All three of those players earned first-team All-Big West honors as well, and for Rangel, she became just the third player in conference history to merit four first-team All-Big West selections. Ashton McKeown was named second-team All-Big West for the second year in a row, while Dana Fujikuni and Kaitlin Fregulia both took home Honorable Mention honors. Fregulia and Froment were also both named to the All-Freshman team.
ON DEFENSE
Long Beach State has now shut out three straight opponents, and has allowed just one goal in the last five games. The Beach set a program record with just four goals allowed over conference play, and is on track to have a team GAA under 0.80 for the third straight season.
SERIES RECORD
UC Irvine leads the all-time series 12-8-15, though ties remain the most common outcome between the two teams. Two out of the last three meetings between the teams have resulted in draws, including this season's tilt, a 0-0 tie at George Allen Field on September 30.
LAST TIME OUT
Ashley Gonzales struck early in the 13th minute with her 10th goal of the season, and Long Beach State cruised from there, holding CSUN off the board and outshooting the Matadors 18-6 in a 1-0 victory to advance to the conference championship.
STRONG START
The Beach began the year at 3-0-1, marking its best four-game start since 2008, when it had an identical record. During that stretch, Long Beach registered three shutouts and a 0.24 goals against average. It also outscored its opponents, 9-1.
ON THE ATTACK
With 27 goals scored in 2016, Long Beach State has put together its best offensive campaign since 2012. LBSU also has seven multi-goal matches in 2016, including a scoring a season-high five against DePaul on Sept. 11. Ten different 49ers have found the back of the net, and seven have done so multiple times. Junior Ashley Gonzales leads the balanced attack with 10 goals and 23 points.
TOUGH SCHEDULE
Long Beach State continues its tradition of playing a tough non-conference schedule as four of its opponents advanced to the NCAA Tournament last year. LBSU has hosted defending national champion Penn State, USC (Second Round) and Loyola Marymount (Sweet 16), and traveled to BYU (Second Round) on Sept. 24. The Beach also faced UCLA, which saw its streak of 17 consecutive postseason appearances snapped in 2015. Seven of the 49ers' non-conference adversaries are coming off a winning season with six recording at least 12 victories. In addition, Long Beach State faced its fourth ranked opponent of the year when the 49ers played at No. 4 BYU. LBSU is 1-3-0 against ranked foes in 2016.
FOR THE RECORD
Junior Ashley Gonzales is sixth in school history with 27 career goals and 60 points. 13 of her goals have been game-winners, which is tied for second on the LBSU all-time charts in that category. Senior Mimi Rangel is also sixth in shot attempts (137), sixth in assists (19) and is ninth in points (47). In addition, senior Ashton McKeown ranks second in shutouts (26.0) and is second in saves as well (218).
DEFENSIVE MINDED
Long Beach State has consistently been one of the top defensive teams in the Big West, and more recently, in the nation. The 49ers' goals against average has been no higher than 0.80 in each of the last two seasons, with last year's mark of 0.65 being tops in the conference and 25th in the country. This season, the Beach is once more allowing less than a goal a game with a 0.80 GAA.
