Beach Soccer Hosts UCF Thursday Night

Thursday, September 19

Long Beach, Calif.

7:00 P.M. PT

Long Beach State University

UCF

Photo by: Art ONeill

9/18/2019 3:24:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Game Notes (PDF)

Long Beach State is back home for just a single match this week, hosting the University of Central Florida Knights on Thursday at 7 p.m. at George Allen Field. The Beach have just two matches remaining on its pre-conference schedule.

By: Tyler Hendrickson, Associate Athletic Communications Director

Thursday, September 19
Long Beach State vs. UCF
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: George Allen Field
Watch: Beach Vision | Live Stats

BEFORE KICKOFF
• The Beach dropped a pair of matches away from home last week, falling to Ole Miss and SMU in Dallas. Long Beach State led on the stat sheet against Ole Miss, with more shots (18-8), more attempts on target (8-4) and more corner kicks (8-3), but the Rebels proved to be more clinical with their chances in the 3-0 victory.

• Mackenzie Magaoay and Lena Silano tied for the game high with four shots against Ole Miss, with Silano putting a game-high three shots on target.

• On Sunday in a true road game at SMU, the Beach withstood the Mustangs attack until there were six minutes to play, when the hosts broke through for the only goal of the game. Junior goalkeeper Marta Alemany Sanchez had five saves in the match.

• Long Beach State's scheduled contest against San Diego State on this Sunday, Sept. 22 was cancelled, leaving the Beach with one match this weekend.

• The Beach have two home matches remaining on the pre-conference slate, hosting BYU next Thursday, Sept. 26.

SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS
• After starting the season 0-1-2, UCF is on a three-match winning streak with victories at Florida (2-0) and at home against Arizona State (4-1) and Stetson (5-0). In addition to the win at Florida, the Knights also tied 2-2 at George Mason in its only other away contest of the season.

• Kristen Scott leads UCF with four goals on 15 shots so far this year while Zandy Soree has added three goals and an assist for the Knights. UCF was picked to finish third in the Preseason AAC Coaches Poll, receiving a pair of first-place votes.

SERIES RECORD vs. UCF
• This is the second meeting between the Beach and the Knights, with UCF winning the first meeting, 1-0, in Orlando back in 2014.

LOOK WHO'S BACK
• Buoyed by the return of 2017 Big West Defensive Player of the Year Kaitlin Fregulia, the Beach boasts an experienced back line. Juniors Sarah Pilster and Kaylee Ramirez have a combined 77 appearances over their first two years on campus. Santa Clara transfer Myah Baksh joins the ranks and should partner nicely with Fregulia at center back.

• In the midfield, the Beach will be looking to talented sophomores Sierra Castles and Charlotte Guillory to take the next step in their development and become facilitators for the Beach. Senior Taylor Bistline provides veteran leadership and was a Preseason All-Conference selection. In the junior class, Nadiyah Siqueiros has made strides during the offseason and should be a key contributor for the Beach, while Kayla Cannon provides valuable pace and playmaking ability on the outside.

• Up front, LBSU has a pair of Preseason All-Conference selections in senior Katie Pingel and sophomore Elysia Laramie. Pingel is LBSU's leading returning scorer after netting four times last season. She has made 38 starts over the past two seasons with the Beach and will likely need to shoulder more of the scoring load after the departure of Long Beach State's career scoring leader Ashley Gonzales and 2018 Big West Midfielder of the Year Dana Fujikuni. Laramie was an All-Freshman Team selection after scoring twice last season. The sophomore forward was also the first player on the scoresheet in LBSU's scrimmage win over FC Golden State, scoring in the third minute.

• Long Beach State will need to replace goalkeeper Imani McDonald, who made 39 starts between the posts in her four years on campus. Top candidates are redshirt sophomore Ashley Seymour, who impressed against the Argentina National Team on LBSU's foreign tour to France this summer, and transfer Marta Alemany Sanchez, who has experience with the Spanish Youth National Team. LBSU also has depth in goal with freshmen Abigail Trengove and Morgan Houston-Shepherd.

WELCOME TO THE BEACH
• In addition to Baksh and Alemany Sanchez, LBSU also adds transfer Amanda Jones from Arizona State. The Long Beach native played in 22 games over her first two seasons in Tempe. LBSU also has a talented freshman class on campus with Aleea Caceres, Jillian Hiraga, Sam Encarnado, Alexis Komisza, Amanda Meichtry and Emily Jauregui joining the Beach this season.

PARIS TRIP
• Prior to the season, the Long Beach State women's soccer team went on a foreign tour to France for the 2019 Women's World Cup. The Beach played a pair of exhibition matches against the Argentina National Team during an 11-day trip to Paris and surrounding cities. LBSU then witnessed the Argentines earn their first Women's World Cup point during a 0-0 draw with Japan at the Parc de Princes. The Beach capped off the trip in Reims, France where the team witnessed Team USA's historic 13-0 victory over Thailand in their World Cup opener.