Thursday, August 26
Malibu, Calif.
3 P.M.
Long Beach State University
at
Pepperdine
Photo by: John Fajardo
Beach Soccer Set for Two Top Ten Matchups in Second Week of Action
8/24/2021 1:48:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Long Beach State will face No. 8 Pepperdine on Thursday and No. 4 UCLA on Sunday.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State is set for a tough pair of matches in their second week of the season. They will be at No. 8 Pepperdine on Thursday and at No. 4 UCLA on Sunday.
Thursday, August 26
Long Beach State at No. 8 Pepperdine
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: Tari Frahm Rokus Field (Malibu, Calif.)
Live Stats | Watch: WCC Network
Sunday, August 29
Long Beach State at No. 4 UCLA
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Wallis Annenburg Stadium (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Live Stats | Watch: PAC-12 Network
THE BEACH IS BACK
• Long Beach State returns to the pitch for the 2021 season after the 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID-19. The team went 4-12-1 in the 2019 campaign, missing the Big West Tournament for just the second time since 2013. The team did enjoy a successful spring season, going a perfect 5-0 and outscoring their opponents 12-1.
LAST TIME OUT
• The Beach kicked off their season in shutout fashion with a 2-0 victory at CSUN last Thursday. Kayla Cannon recorded the first LBSU goal of the year in the 25th minute while Daria Petredes put one in the net two minutes later. Lena Silano notched an assist on both goals while Summer Laskey and Kaylee Ramirez also recorded assists.
WEEKLY HONORS
• With the 2021 season officially underway, the first Big West weekly awards were announced and Morgan Houston-Shepherd was named the Defensive Player of the Week. The redshirt freshman made her collegiate debut collecting her first career win and shutout. She becomes the first LBSU recipient since Oct. 2018.
FAVORITES TO WIN IT ALL
• The Big West preseason poll was announced on Thursday, Aug. 12 and the Beach found themselves in the top spot with 106 points, edging out defending champion Cal State Fullerton by two points. In addition to the top spot in the poll, senior defender Kaitlin Fregulia was named to the preseason All-Conference Team. She was the lone Beach representative and one of just two defenders on the list.
WEST COAST, BEST COAST
• LBSU is staying close to home this season with all 20 of their matches coming against western teams. In fact, they will only play three non-California schools (Washington, Montana, Hawaii) and the only road contest of those three will be against the Huskies up in Seattle. Despite that, the Beach will face tough competition including four teams currently in the United Soccer Coaches rankings (#4 UCLA, #8 Pepperdine, #20 Cal, RV Washington).
ABOUT THE ROSTER
• There are 10 new faces joining the team this year, all of which are incoming freshman. Among them are two forwards, three midfielders, four defenders, and a goalkeeper. The newcomers will be joining the entire group of 25 student-athletes that were slated to play the 2020 season before it was cancelled. Among that group is four Power 5 transfers, three from the PAC-12 and one from the SEC.
BACK FOR MORE
• Among some of the notable returners is three-time All-Conference selection and 2017 Defensive Player of the Year, Kaitlin Fregulia. She was named an All-Big West Second Team selection at the end of the 2019 campaign.
• Returning for her third season in the black and gold is Lena Silano. The junior forward enjoyed a very successful summer playing for the Santa Clarita Blue Heat. She led her squad to the UWS National Championship scoring the game-winning goal and earning Finals MVP.
INJURY REPORT
• The injury bug struck the Beach in the offseason, sidelining three players for the entirety of the 2021 campaign. Most notable of them is 2019 All-Big West First Team selection, Elysia Laramie, who suffered a torn ACL and will be out of action all year. Incoming freshman Morgan Irvine is also recovering from a torn ACL and will be forced to miss her first season in black and gold.
BUILDING THE RESUME
• Over the the last decade or so, the Beach has been a dominant force in the Big West Conference claiming four Big West Tournament titles and two regular season titles. They have been to the conference tournament finals six different times since 2010.
• Beyond the Big West Conference, Long Beach State has made their presence known nationally as well. Since 2008, the team has made seven NCAA Tournament appearances including a run in 2010 where they reached the Elite 8.
FACING RANKED OPPONENTS
• With two top ten matchups this week, Long Beach State has now faced at least one team ranked 10 or better in each of the last six seasons.
SCOUTING THE WAVES
• Pepperdine opened up their 2021 season with a pair of shutouts against USC, 2-0, and San Diego State, 3-0. Because of the 2-0 start, the Waves have skyrocketed through the rankings to #8.
• Devyn Gilfoy led the way last week with a goal and an assist, both coming against USC. Carlee Giammona, Leyla McFarland, and Trinity Watson also recorded goals in their opening week of action.
• Zoe Clevely has played every minute in goal for the Waves and is a perfect 8-for-8 on save chances. Seven of the eight came against USC.
• Long Beach State trails the all-time series 2-5-0, but the Beach has won the last two matchups with the last meeting being in 2011.
• That match in 2011 came in the first round of the NCAA Postseason where the two-seeded Beach upset the #7 nationally-ranked Waves, 1-0, in overtime.
• Under Coach Ingrassia, Long Beach State has faced Pepperdine just twice, winning both meetings.
SCOUTING THE BRUINS
• UCLA started their 2021 campaign with a perfect 2-0 record, notching a 3-1 victory over UC Irvine and a 3-0 win over Cal State Fullerton. The Bruins find themselves at #4 in the United Soccer Coaches poll.
• Mia Fishel and Maricarmen Reyes led the UCLA offense as each of them scored two goals in the opening week. Madelyn Desiano was also key for the Bruins, notching three assists in the two matches.
• The Bruins saw two goalies in action for their first week, but Lauren Brzykcy started both matches and has yet to surrender a goal in 135 minutes thus far.
• Long Beach State trails the all-time series 2-8-0 and has lost the last four meetings. The last Beach win against the Bruins was a 1-0 stunner in the season opener of the 2015 opener.
• Since Coach Ingrassia's arrival, Long Beach State is the only school in the Big West to defeat the Bruins with that 2015 season opening victory. The last time a Big West school defeated the Bruins prior to 2015 was in 1996.
Thursday, August 26
Long Beach State at No. 8 Pepperdine
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: Tari Frahm Rokus Field (Malibu, Calif.)
Live Stats | Watch: WCC Network
Sunday, August 29
Long Beach State at No. 4 UCLA
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Wallis Annenburg Stadium (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Live Stats | Watch: PAC-12 Network
THE BEACH IS BACK
• Long Beach State returns to the pitch for the 2021 season after the 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID-19. The team went 4-12-1 in the 2019 campaign, missing the Big West Tournament for just the second time since 2013. The team did enjoy a successful spring season, going a perfect 5-0 and outscoring their opponents 12-1.
LAST TIME OUT
• The Beach kicked off their season in shutout fashion with a 2-0 victory at CSUN last Thursday. Kayla Cannon recorded the first LBSU goal of the year in the 25th minute while Daria Petredes put one in the net two minutes later. Lena Silano notched an assist on both goals while Summer Laskey and Kaylee Ramirez also recorded assists.
WEEKLY HONORS
• With the 2021 season officially underway, the first Big West weekly awards were announced and Morgan Houston-Shepherd was named the Defensive Player of the Week. The redshirt freshman made her collegiate debut collecting her first career win and shutout. She becomes the first LBSU recipient since Oct. 2018.
FAVORITES TO WIN IT ALL
• The Big West preseason poll was announced on Thursday, Aug. 12 and the Beach found themselves in the top spot with 106 points, edging out defending champion Cal State Fullerton by two points. In addition to the top spot in the poll, senior defender Kaitlin Fregulia was named to the preseason All-Conference Team. She was the lone Beach representative and one of just two defenders on the list.
WEST COAST, BEST COAST
• LBSU is staying close to home this season with all 20 of their matches coming against western teams. In fact, they will only play three non-California schools (Washington, Montana, Hawaii) and the only road contest of those three will be against the Huskies up in Seattle. Despite that, the Beach will face tough competition including four teams currently in the United Soccer Coaches rankings (#4 UCLA, #8 Pepperdine, #20 Cal, RV Washington).
ABOUT THE ROSTER
• There are 10 new faces joining the team this year, all of which are incoming freshman. Among them are two forwards, three midfielders, four defenders, and a goalkeeper. The newcomers will be joining the entire group of 25 student-athletes that were slated to play the 2020 season before it was cancelled. Among that group is four Power 5 transfers, three from the PAC-12 and one from the SEC.
BACK FOR MORE
• Among some of the notable returners is three-time All-Conference selection and 2017 Defensive Player of the Year, Kaitlin Fregulia. She was named an All-Big West Second Team selection at the end of the 2019 campaign.
• Returning for her third season in the black and gold is Lena Silano. The junior forward enjoyed a very successful summer playing for the Santa Clarita Blue Heat. She led her squad to the UWS National Championship scoring the game-winning goal and earning Finals MVP.
INJURY REPORT
• The injury bug struck the Beach in the offseason, sidelining three players for the entirety of the 2021 campaign. Most notable of them is 2019 All-Big West First Team selection, Elysia Laramie, who suffered a torn ACL and will be out of action all year. Incoming freshman Morgan Irvine is also recovering from a torn ACL and will be forced to miss her first season in black and gold.
BUILDING THE RESUME
• Over the the last decade or so, the Beach has been a dominant force in the Big West Conference claiming four Big West Tournament titles and two regular season titles. They have been to the conference tournament finals six different times since 2010.
• Beyond the Big West Conference, Long Beach State has made their presence known nationally as well. Since 2008, the team has made seven NCAA Tournament appearances including a run in 2010 where they reached the Elite 8.
FACING RANKED OPPONENTS
• With two top ten matchups this week, Long Beach State has now faced at least one team ranked 10 or better in each of the last six seasons.
SCOUTING THE WAVES
• Pepperdine opened up their 2021 season with a pair of shutouts against USC, 2-0, and San Diego State, 3-0. Because of the 2-0 start, the Waves have skyrocketed through the rankings to #8.
• Devyn Gilfoy led the way last week with a goal and an assist, both coming against USC. Carlee Giammona, Leyla McFarland, and Trinity Watson also recorded goals in their opening week of action.
• Zoe Clevely has played every minute in goal for the Waves and is a perfect 8-for-8 on save chances. Seven of the eight came against USC.
• Long Beach State trails the all-time series 2-5-0, but the Beach has won the last two matchups with the last meeting being in 2011.
• That match in 2011 came in the first round of the NCAA Postseason where the two-seeded Beach upset the #7 nationally-ranked Waves, 1-0, in overtime.
• Under Coach Ingrassia, Long Beach State has faced Pepperdine just twice, winning both meetings.
SCOUTING THE BRUINS
• UCLA started their 2021 campaign with a perfect 2-0 record, notching a 3-1 victory over UC Irvine and a 3-0 win over Cal State Fullerton. The Bruins find themselves at #4 in the United Soccer Coaches poll.
• Mia Fishel and Maricarmen Reyes led the UCLA offense as each of them scored two goals in the opening week. Madelyn Desiano was also key for the Bruins, notching three assists in the two matches.
• The Bruins saw two goalies in action for their first week, but Lauren Brzykcy started both matches and has yet to surrender a goal in 135 minutes thus far.
• Long Beach State trails the all-time series 2-8-0 and has lost the last four meetings. The last Beach win against the Bruins was a 1-0 stunner in the season opener of the 2015 opener.
• Since Coach Ingrassia's arrival, Long Beach State is the only school in the Big West to defeat the Bruins with that 2015 season opening victory. The last time a Big West school defeated the Bruins prior to 2015 was in 1996.
Players Mentioned
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