Thursday, September 16
Long Beach, Calif.
7 P.M.
Long Beach State University
vs
Montana
Photo by: John Fajardo
Long Beach State Set for Home Opener Against Montana, Host Cal
9/14/2021 3:47:00 PM | Women's Soccer
The Beach will play their first home games of the season this week.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State will see their first regular season action at George Allen Field this week, facing Montana in their home opener on Thursday and then hosting Cal on Sunday.
Thursday, September 16
Long Beach State vs. Montana
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: George Allen Field (Long Beach, Calif.)
Live Stats | Watch: ESPN+
Sunday, September 19
Long Beach State vs. Cal
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Location: George Allen Field (Long Beach, Calif.)
Live Stats | Watch: ESPN+
LAST TIME OUT
• The Beach played their sixth straight road match on Saturday earning a 1-1 draw with the Huskies up in Seattle.
• Lena Silano was the hero, scoring the game-tying goal in the 89th minute to force overtime. Defensively, the Beach held UW to just three shots over the final 70 minutes of the double overtime draw.
THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
• After coming back to earn a draw against Washington, the Beach continues to receive votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll. It is the first time, they have received votes in three consecutive weeks since September of 2018.
• In the West region, Long Beach State is still ranked among the top teams sitting at #5 in the week four United Soccer Coaches poll.
SILANO'S SCORING
• Junior forward Lena Silano's game-tying goal against Washington marks her fourth goal of the season and gives her 10 total points through the team's first six games.
• She is the fastest to reach 10 points in a season since Ashley Gonzales also did it in six games back in 2014.
AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS
• Speaking of Silano, she is off to a scorching hot start to the season and finds herself all over the top of the Big West leaderboards:
- Points/game: 1.67 (1st)
- Goals/game: .667 (1st)
- SOG/game: 2.00 (1st)
- Total Goals: 4 (T-1st)
- Game-Winners: 2 (T-1st)
- Total Points: 10 (T-1st)
THE BRICK WALL IN NET
• Morgan Houston-Shepherd continues to be a force in goal for the Beach to start her career. Through six games, she sports an .824 save percentage and has surrendered just one goal per game. Both of those marks rank tops in the Big West.
A MATCH FOR THE BOOKS
• The 2-1 upset win over #8 Pepperdine marked Long Beach State's first win over a ranked opponent since August 24, 2017 when they defeated then #22 Northwestern, 2-0.
• The victory also marked the Beach's first win over a top ten team since the 2015 season opener against #4 UCLA, 1-0.
BACK TO BACK
• Morgan Houston-Shepherd has made a huge impact to start her collegiate career, claiming the first two Big West Defensive Player of the Week awards of the 2021 season. It marks the first time an LBSU player has won back-to-back honors since 2014.
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 18 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 three teams currently in the United Soccer Coaches rankings (#4 UCLA, #8 Pepperdine, RV Cal).
INJURY REPORT
• The injury bug struck the Beach in the offseason, sidelining two 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.
MAURICIO'S DYNASTY
• Prior to Coach Ingrassia taking the helm of Long Beach State, the team had not had a winning record in the Big West Conference. Since he took over in 2004, the Beach has been over .500 in all but three seasons (14-of-17).
• Over the the last decade, 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 an Elite 8 appearance in 2011. That is the furthest run by any team in the Big West.
SCOUTING THE GRIZZLIES
• Montana enters the week with a 3-4 record after a pair of wins over Texas Southern and Boise State last week. They have also won three of their last four matches.
• Through seven games, the Grizzlies are outscoring their opponents 13-8 and outshooting the opposition 106-84 (45-36 SOG).
• The Grizzly offense is led by Jaden Griggs and Sydney Haustein who have three goals apiece. Taylor Stoeger leads the way with 16 shots to go along with two goals and two assists.
• In net, Xu Camellia has seen majority of the time sporting a .767 save percentage. She has notched three shutouts thus far making 23 saves and allowing 7 goals.
• This will be the first matchup between Montana and Long Beach State in program history.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN BEARS
• Cal enters the week unbeaten with a 3-0-2 record, but had both of their matches cancelled last week due to COVID-related issues.
• Through their first five games though, the Golden Bears are outscoring their opponents 8-2 and outshooting them 83-46.
• Seven different players have found the back of the net, but Karlie Lema leads the way with two goals and a team-high six shots on goal.
• Angelina Anderson has started four of the five games and recorded three shutouts. She sports a .900 save percentage making nine saves and only allowing one goal.
• The Beach trails the all-time series 0-5-0 with the last meeting going 1-0 in favor of Cal back in 2017.
Thursday, September 16
Long Beach State vs. Montana
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: George Allen Field (Long Beach, Calif.)
Live Stats | Watch: ESPN+
Sunday, September 19
Long Beach State vs. Cal
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Location: George Allen Field (Long Beach, Calif.)
Live Stats | Watch: ESPN+
LAST TIME OUT
• The Beach played their sixth straight road match on Saturday earning a 1-1 draw with the Huskies up in Seattle.
• Lena Silano was the hero, scoring the game-tying goal in the 89th minute to force overtime. Defensively, the Beach held UW to just three shots over the final 70 minutes of the double overtime draw.
THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
• After coming back to earn a draw against Washington, the Beach continues to receive votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll. It is the first time, they have received votes in three consecutive weeks since September of 2018.
• In the West region, Long Beach State is still ranked among the top teams sitting at #5 in the week four United Soccer Coaches poll.
SILANO'S SCORING
• Junior forward Lena Silano's game-tying goal against Washington marks her fourth goal of the season and gives her 10 total points through the team's first six games.
• She is the fastest to reach 10 points in a season since Ashley Gonzales also did it in six games back in 2014.
AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS
• Speaking of Silano, she is off to a scorching hot start to the season and finds herself all over the top of the Big West leaderboards:
- Points/game: 1.67 (1st)
- Goals/game: .667 (1st)
- SOG/game: 2.00 (1st)
- Total Goals: 4 (T-1st)
- Game-Winners: 2 (T-1st)
- Total Points: 10 (T-1st)
THE BRICK WALL IN NET
• Morgan Houston-Shepherd continues to be a force in goal for the Beach to start her career. Through six games, she sports an .824 save percentage and has surrendered just one goal per game. Both of those marks rank tops in the Big West.
A MATCH FOR THE BOOKS
• The 2-1 upset win over #8 Pepperdine marked Long Beach State's first win over a ranked opponent since August 24, 2017 when they defeated then #22 Northwestern, 2-0.
• The victory also marked the Beach's first win over a top ten team since the 2015 season opener against #4 UCLA, 1-0.
BACK TO BACK
• Morgan Houston-Shepherd has made a huge impact to start her collegiate career, claiming the first two Big West Defensive Player of the Week awards of the 2021 season. It marks the first time an LBSU player has won back-to-back honors since 2014.
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 18 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 three teams currently in the United Soccer Coaches rankings (#4 UCLA, #8 Pepperdine, RV Cal).
INJURY REPORT
• The injury bug struck the Beach in the offseason, sidelining two 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.
MAURICIO'S DYNASTY
• Prior to Coach Ingrassia taking the helm of Long Beach State, the team had not had a winning record in the Big West Conference. Since he took over in 2004, the Beach has been over .500 in all but three seasons (14-of-17).
• Over the the last decade, 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 an Elite 8 appearance in 2011. That is the furthest run by any team in the Big West.
SCOUTING THE GRIZZLIES
• Montana enters the week with a 3-4 record after a pair of wins over Texas Southern and Boise State last week. They have also won three of their last four matches.
• Through seven games, the Grizzlies are outscoring their opponents 13-8 and outshooting the opposition 106-84 (45-36 SOG).
• The Grizzly offense is led by Jaden Griggs and Sydney Haustein who have three goals apiece. Taylor Stoeger leads the way with 16 shots to go along with two goals and two assists.
• In net, Xu Camellia has seen majority of the time sporting a .767 save percentage. She has notched three shutouts thus far making 23 saves and allowing 7 goals.
• This will be the first matchup between Montana and Long Beach State in program history.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN BEARS
• Cal enters the week unbeaten with a 3-0-2 record, but had both of their matches cancelled last week due to COVID-related issues.
• Through their first five games though, the Golden Bears are outscoring their opponents 8-2 and outshooting them 83-46.
• Seven different players have found the back of the net, but Karlie Lema leads the way with two goals and a team-high six shots on goal.
• Angelina Anderson has started four of the five games and recorded three shutouts. She sports a .900 save percentage making nine saves and only allowing one goal.
• The Beach trails the all-time series 0-5-0 with the last meeting going 1-0 in favor of Cal back in 2017.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
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