Long Beach State Wraps Up Preseason In Great Park Against UC Irvine

Saturday, August 11

Great Park - Irvine, Calif.

7:00 PM PT

Long Beach State University

UC Irvine

Photo by: Photo by John Fajardo

Long Beach State Wraps Up Preseason In Great Park Against UC Irvine

8/11/2018 11:29:00 PM | Women's Soccer

By: Roger Kirk, Assistant Athletics Director, Athletic Communications

IRVINE, Calif. – In a unique exhibition, Long Beach State and UC Irvine had a preseason Black and Blue Rivalry matchup that saw the Anteaters come away with a 1-0 win in at the Great Park in Irvine.

The exhibition lived up to its billing as featuring the top two teams in the Big West Preseason Coaches Poll, as the shots and corners both ended up even as each side worked in the majority of their rosters over three 30 minute periods.

Here's the thoughts of @MIsoccer following Saturday's exhibition. #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/9t9BquW8T2
— LongBeachStateSoccer (@LBSUSoccer) August 11, 2018

                Long Beach State opened with a great opportunity in the first five minutes, as Ashley Gonzales found Kayla Cannon for a great shot that just slipped wide of the goal. UC Irvine finished the first 30 with four shots on goal, but only required one save from Imani McDonald, a routine basket catch.

                UC Irvine would tally the only goal of the game in the second thirty minutes. Breaking on the counter, the Anteaters found Claire Grouwinkel streaking down the sideline, and the sophomore was able to get behind the LBSU defense to break the deadlock.

                The Beach had two solid opportunities to claim an equalizer. Sierra Castles found Ashley Gonzales in the 46th minute for a shot in the box, but the senior's effort went straight to UCI keeper Maddie Newsom.

                Then in the final 15 minutes, Katie Pingel and Rocio Rodriguez worked an excellent combination that led to a shot from Pingel that was pushed wide of the bar on the stretch by substitute keeper Madi Puliafico.

                Prior to the game, Long Beach State as the hosts held a reception with remarks from Ingrassia and Director of Athletics Andy Fee that was a well-attended kickoff to the season.

Long Beach State officially opens the 2018 season next Friday, August 17, when the team travels up the 405 to face No. 2 UCLA in the grand opening of Wallis Annenberg Stadium.