Thursday, November 1
Irvine, Calif.
5 p.m.
Long Beach State University
11-5-3, 5-1-2
1
vs
0
UC Davis
7-8-4, 4-2-2
1
2
F
UC Davis
0
0
0
Long Beach State
0
1
1
Photo by: John Fajardo
Women’s Soccer Advances With 1-0 Win Over UC Davis
11/1/2018 7:39:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Long Beach State plays in their fourth final in the last five years.
IRVINE, Calif. – Living up to the hype as a Big West Tournament game, Long Beach State and UC Davis battled in a physical contest but senior Dana Fujikuni's second half goal was the difference as the Beach advanced to the finals with a 1-0 win.
Long Beach State (11-5-3) picked up the first shot of the game in the fourth minute, but most of the first half was played in the middle of the field as UC Davis (7-8-4) and the Beach played the first 45 scoreless. The best chance came in the closing seconds, as Rola Badawiya's effort from distance just grazed the crossbar before the break.
In the second half, Long Beach State struck early to grab the lead. Katie Pingel was able to run down a long cross, turned towards the line and Fujikuni's shot beat the keeper and drifted over the line before Kayla Cannon smashed it for insurance, giving the Beach a 1-0 lead in the 48th minute.
That lead would hold as Long Beach State continued to press forward. The Beach had another excellent chance in the 73rd minute, as freshman Elysia Laramie was played through, but Aggies keeper Alexis Smith came up with a big save for UC Davis to keep the lead at one.
Senior Imani McDonald was excellent in net for Long Beach State as well, recording her 11th individual shutout while coming up with four saves and organizing the defense for the team's sixth shutout of the season in a pressure situation.
Long Beach State advances to the finals for the fourth time in the last five years, and will face either UC Santa Barbara or the hosts UC Irvine at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Anteater Stadium. On the line will be Long Beach State's fourth Big West Tournament title and seventh NCAA Tournament appearance.
Long Beach State (11-5-3) picked up the first shot of the game in the fourth minute, but most of the first half was played in the middle of the field as UC Davis (7-8-4) and the Beach played the first 45 scoreless. The best chance came in the closing seconds, as Rola Badawiya's effort from distance just grazed the crossbar before the break.
In the second half, Long Beach State struck early to grab the lead. Katie Pingel was able to run down a long cross, turned towards the line and Fujikuni's shot beat the keeper and drifted over the line before Kayla Cannon smashed it for insurance, giving the Beach a 1-0 lead in the 48th minute.
Check out the highlights from today's Big West Tournament semifinal win from Beach Vision! @LBSUSoccer advances to the finals on Sunday! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/P7QjuI5CNN
— LongBeachStateSoccer (@LBSUSoccer) November 2, 2018
That lead would hold as Long Beach State continued to press forward. The Beach had another excellent chance in the 73rd minute, as freshman Elysia Laramie was played through, but Aggies keeper Alexis Smith came up with a big save for UC Davis to keep the lead at one.
Senior Imani McDonald was excellent in net for Long Beach State as well, recording her 11th individual shutout while coming up with four saves and organizing the defense for the team's sixth shutout of the season in a pressure situation.
Long Beach State advances to the finals for the fourth time in the last five years, and will face either UC Santa Barbara or the hosts UC Irvine at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Anteater Stadium. On the line will be Long Beach State's fourth Big West Tournament title and seventh NCAA Tournament appearance.
Team Stats
UCD
LBSU
Goals
0
1
Shots
9
13
Shots on Goal
4
7
Saves
6
4
Corners
5
2
Fouls
11
8
Scoring Plays
Fujikuni, Dana (5)
Assisted By: Pingel, Katie
from left wing hard angle, dangles on li
48:31
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
3
SOG
3
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's SoccerMF
/ Women's Soccer
D/F
/ Women's Soccer
GK
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