Gonzales Ties Goals Record, Beach Ties Loyola Marymount In Final Non-Conference Game

Saturday, September 22

Long Beach, Calif.

7:00 PM PT

Long Beach State University

5-4-1

LMU

2-6-3

OT 1

OT 2

Loyola Marymount

Long Beach State

Gonzales Ties Goals Record, Beach Ties Loyola Marymount In Final Non-Conference Game

9/22/2018 10:32:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score - LMU

Ashley Gonzales tied Janet Fetting for the Long Beach State school record with her 33rd career goal.

By: Roger Kirk, Assistant Athletics Director, Athletic Communications

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Ashley Gonzales scored the 33rd goal of her career to put the Beach into the lead against Loyola Marymount and LBSU took a 2-1 lead into halftime, but the Lions were able to head home a second goal and the game ended in a 2-2 tie.

                Long Beach State (5-4-1) came out very strong in the first half, and wasted no time in opening the lead. Going direct, Chloe Froment played a perfectly weighted ball for Gonzales to run on to, and the senior didn't waste the chance, giving the Beach a 1-0 lead.

If you couldn't join us, here's the moment when @AGon_14 tied the ?? record for career goals earlier tonight! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/C4z4XnmWbn
— LongBeachStateSoccer (@LBSUSoccer) September 23, 2018

                A succession of shots and corners followed for the Beach, and the pressure led to a second goal as Dana Fujikuni flicked a corner on for Katie Pingel, who headed home her second goal of the year to make the score 2-0.

                In the immediate aftermath of the LBSU goal, Loyola Marymount (2-6-3) was able to strike back against the run of play, as Shelby Cormier scored following the lone corner of the half for the Lions on the lone shot, as the score would stand at 2-1 at the break.

                The Beach had two early opportunities in the second half, as Gonzales just missed on a set play and Kaylee Ramirez hit the bar following a corner kick both in the first ten minutes. The missed chances would hurt the Beach in the end however, as Melissa Lewis headed home the second goal of the game for LMU in the 72nd minute to tie the game.

                With the momentum sliding towards the Lions, senior Imani McDonald stepped up for the Beach, making three saves in the second half and three more in the second overtime to maintain the score, despite an overall edge in shots in the game of 22 to 13 in favor of Long Beach State.

                Gonzales now owns the modern era for career goals scored with 33, and with one more will hold the record on her own, passing Janet Fettig who scored 33 goals during from 1984 to 1986 until the program went on hiatus.

                Long Beach State opens up Big West Conference play with an important rivalry, hitting the road to face Cal State Fullerton on Thursday, September 27 in the only game of the week for the Beach. Kickoff from Fullerton in scheduled for 7 p.m.