Women’s Soccer Claims Third Straight Win In 3-1 Victory At UC Riverside

Thursday, October 19

Riverside, Calif.

7:30 p.m.

Long Beach State University

9-5-3, 4-2-2

UC Riverside

2-10-5, 2-5-1

Long Beach St.

UC Riverside

Photo by: Diego Devia @Devia.Img

Women’s Soccer Claims Third Straight Win In 3-1 Victory At UC Riverside

10/19/2023 10:04:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Cherrie Cox, Maddy Perez, and Kassandra Ceja tallied the goals as the Beach remains right in the thick of the title race.

By: Roger Kirk, Associate Athletics Director, Communications & Broadcast

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Long Beach State grabbed a pair of first half goals and controlled the action throughout the evening, going into the inland empire and coming away with a 3-1 win at UC Riverside, the third win in a row for the Beach.

                Long Beach State (9-5-3, 4-2-2 Big West) jumped out to a quick lead in the contest. The Beach was able to put their second shot of the game into the back of the net as Kana Uchida, Kassandra Ceja, Cherrie Cox and Makayla Demelo combined in a sequence ending with Cox who lobbed Cassia Souza to go up 1-0.

                Cox nearly picked up a third straight brace in the 29th minute, reading a poor Highlander pass out of the back to take a long-range shot, denied only by a great save from Souza. On the ensuing corner, Brooklyn Antonucci sent the set piece bouncing through the six-yard box and junior Maddy Perez knocked it home, the first goal of the season for the LBSU standout defender.

                Into the second half, Long Beach State continued to build pressure, with a good opportunity sniffed out by Souza at the last moment for UC Riverside (2-10-5, 2-5-1 Big West).

                A darting run from Cox led to a nice opportunity for substitute Sara Ybarra in the 56th, but UC Riverside started taking some wild chances minutes later, one of which nearly paid off. With numbers forward for the Beach, UC Riverside broke on a counter that forced Zora Standifer out of her box, but Perez, already a hero with the goal saved one with a tackle behind the junior goalkeeper on the break.

                Long Beach State put away the game in the 69th minute, as Ceja was fouled in the box for a penalty and the senior took the kick herself, scoring her third goal of the season to make the score 3-0. The Highlanders pulled one back with a matching penalty kick in the 77th minute Braelynn Llamoca, but the Beach closed out the win with no further problems.

                With the win, Long Beach State picks up three crucial points and will remain on the road Sunday for a critical top of the standings matchup at Cal State Fullerton. The rivalry matchup will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with kickoff coming at 5 p.m.