Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State University
Northeastern
Soccer Continues Homestand This Week Against Northeastern, San Diego State
8/22/2018 12:14:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Long Beach State hosts Northeastern first Friday at 7 p.m.
LONG BEACH, Calif. --
BEFORE KICKOFF
• The Beach is back in action for a pair of home games this week as Long Beach State plays host to Northeastern and San Diego State. First up are the Huskies, who will play the Beach on Friday, August 24 at 7 p.m., and then LBSU takes on San Diego State at 6 p.m. on Sunday, August 26. Both games will be streamed live at www.longbeachstate.com, with live stats available as well.
• Long Beach State has not shied away from facing a tough schedule and that started with the team's very first game, as the Beach went toe-to-toe with No. 2 UCLA, playing 89 scoreless minutes against the Bruins before UCLA scored a goal in the closing seconds to come away with the win.
• Returning to George Allen Field, Long Beach State bounced back and grabbed a win over SMU courtesy of a half-volley goal from sophomore Nadiyah Siqueiros. Imani McDonald recorded the eighth individual shutout of her career to lead the defense in a 1-0 win over the Mustangs.
• Making 12 saves over the two games and allowing just one goal led to senior Imani McDonald earning multiple weekly honors. The senior was named the Big West Defensive Player of the Week, and was also the goalkeeper selected to the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week.
• The Beach returns 18 letterwinners for the 2018 season from the 2017 team, and welcomes back nine starters from last season in goalkeeper Imani McDonald, defenders Kaitlin Fregulia, Sarah Pilster, Chloe Froment and Alyssa Alvarez, midfielders Katie Pingel, Rocio Rodriguez, and Dana Fujikuni and forward Rola Badawiya.
• Another key returner for Long Beach State missed 2017, as Ashley Gonzales returns for the Beach. The senior played in just two games before a medical redshirt, but the 2016 Big West Offensive Player of the Year is back for LBSU in 2018. Gonzales through three seasons already rates among Long Beach State's all-time offensive leaders.
• The LBSU defense should be an area of strength in the upcoming year. The Beach recorded 9 shutouts one season ago, second-most in the Big West, and return four starters from the back line as well as senior Sarah Maher and goalkeeper Imani McDonald. Combined, Alyssa Alvarez, Kaitlin Fregulia, Chloe Froment, Sarah Pilster and Maher have totalled 195 games of experience in defense entering the year.
• In the absence of Gonzales at the top of the formation in 2017, Long Beach State had tremendous offensive balance, with 13 different players combining to score the 25 total goals for the Beach on the year, while 12 players combined for the assists on those goals. In total, 17 different players combined to play in Long Beach State's scoring last season.
• Long Beach State will once again face a tremendous non-conference schedule. On the slate are three road games against opponents ranked in the Top 25, including the season opener against No. 2 UCLA as well as at USC and Texas. Additionally, Long Beach State will host Auburn who recently entered the Top 25, and grabbed a win in the opening weekend against SMU who was receiving votes at the time.
• Receiving two first-place votes, Long Beach State was picked to finish second in the Big West preseason coaches poll, two points behind UC Irvine, who took the top spot along with three first-place votes. Cal State Fullerton also received three first-place votes and was picked to finish third and the three rivals were very close in the final point totals. CSUN was picked to finish fourth, followed by UC Davis who received the final first-place vote. UCSB, UC Riverside, Cal Poly and Hawai'i rounded out the order as predicted by the coaches.
• The Beach had three players selected to the 11-player preseason all-conference team as well. Senior Forward Ashley Gonzales and Junior F/MF Katie Pingel were two of the offensive players selected, while defender Chloe Froment was one of the four defenders picked as the top representatives for the Big West entering the season. All three have previously earned All-Big West honors, with Gonzales and Froment both claiming top individual honors in 2016.
• Along with Long Beach State's nine returning starters, the Beach brings back six additional players that played in over half of the 49ers' games last season. Senior Sarah Maher will help bolster the defense, while Taylor Bistline, Kayla Cannon, Kaylee Ramirez, Nadiyah Siqueiros, and Makayla Soll will all continue to challenge for time on the field in 2018.
• Additional reinforcements for the Beach come in the form of seven newcomers for 2018. Riana Castaneda joins the team as a junior college transfer after two years as the starting goalkeeper at Fresno City College. She is joined by six new freshman in a highly touted class featuring Sierra Castles, Charlotte Guillory, Elysia Laramie, Angela Morales, Lena Silano, and goalkeeper Abigail Trengove.
SCOUTING THE HUSKIES
• Northeastern split their first two games of the season, dropping UConn 2-0 before falling 1-0 to Boston College, playing both games at home. The Huskies will play two games on their trip out west, facing LMU after playing the Beach on Friday.
SERIES RECORD vs. NORTHEASTERN
• This is the first meeting between the teams.
SCOUTING THE AZTECS
• San Diego State grabbed their first win of the year over New Mexico State on the strength of a goal from Taylor Moorehead. The Aztecs lost their top two scorers from a year ago, but recorded eight shots including four on target in their opener against NMSU.
SERIES RECORD vs. SDSU
• Long Beach State has won the last two meetings against the Aztecs in a series that resumed with a home-and-home over the last two seasons. The Beach has gone 3-1-1 in the last five meetings, turning around a series that had seen the Aztecs win five straight games in the early 2000s.
