Long Beach State University
7-6-6, 5-2-3
UC Santa Barbara
5-9-6, 4-3-3
Long Beach State Advances to Semi-Finals of The Big West Championships
10/30/2022 9:44:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Lena Silano scored both goals in the 2-1 double overtime victory putting her in a tie for the program single-season record.
In a truly even match all the way through, UC Santa Barbara and Long Beach State went scoreless through the first 45 minutes. The Gauchos put four shots on goal in the first half forcing four saves from the Beach, including a tremendous team save from Aimee Medwin in the 33rd minute.
What a save from Aimee on the goal line to keep this one scoreless!
— LongBeachStateSoccer (@LBSUSoccer) October 31, 2022
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Less than two minutes after the break, Silano broke the scoreless tie with the fastest second half goal for the program in Big West Championships history. On a beautiful ball from Alia Sinoff, the Offensive Player of the Year beat the backline and won a tough challenge with the UCSB goalie for an open net finish and her first goal of the night.
A beautiful ball from Sinoff finds Silano up front for her FIFTEENTH goal of the year!
— LongBeachStateSoccer (@LBSUSoccer) October 31, 2022
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Unfortunately, the lead would not hold. In the 82nda minute, the Gauchos got a clean ball in from O'Callaghan Liu to find the head of Lauren Helwig for the finish and knot things up at one and force overtime.
With the new overtime rules in affect, LBSU and UCSB were set for two full ten-minute overtime periods with no golden goal.
Once again, Silano wasted no time after the quick break. A Santa Barbara clear went straight to Sinoff just outside the box. Her cross went low and off the bounce, the Agoura Hills native got a tremendous touch to chip it over the keeper's head and put Long Beach back in front 2-1.
With her second goal of the night, @LenaSilano has TIED the program single-season record! ????
— LongBeachStateSoccer (@LBSUSoccer) October 31, 2022
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The goal marks her sixteenth of the season, which ties the program single-season record held by Annette Fernandez (1984) and Nadia Link (2011). Her 38 total points for the year now ranks third all-time.
The 2-1 score would hold thanks to a Zora Standifer save in the first overtime period and solid defense to prevent the Gauchos from many opportunities in the second OT. Standifer totaled five saves on the night, including a massive one in the first half going full extension on a diving grab to her left.
Oh my goodness @justtzora ??
— LongBeachStateSoccer (@LBSUSoccer) October 31, 2022
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The victory marks Long Beach State's fifth consecutive win in Big West postseason matches and advances them to the their tenth semi-final match in the Ingrassia Era. Silano's two goals and Sinoff's two assists marks just the second time a player has done that in a Big West postseason match in program history.
Advancing to the semi-finals, the Beach will travel north to take on the regular season champion Mustangs of Cal Poly. Kickoff in San Luis Obispo will be at 7 p.m. in Alex G. Spanos Stadium.
Team Stats
Lena Silano (16)
Assisted By: Alia Sinoff
GOAL by LBSU Silano, Lena Assist by Sinoff, Alia.
46:56
Lauren Helwig (7)
Assisted By: O'Callaghan Liu
GOAL by UCSB Helwig, Lauren Assist by Liu, O'Callaghan.
81:17
Lena Silano (16)
Assisted By: Alia Sinoff
GOAL by LBSU Silano, Lena Assist by Sinoff, Alia.
91:44
