No. 23 UCLA Holds Off Long Beach State Women’s Soccer

Friday, August 29

Los Angeles, Calif.

7 p.m.

Long Beach State University

1-4-0, 0-0-0

UCLA

2-2-0, 0-0-0

Long Beach St.

UCLA

8/29/2025 9:24:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Long Beach State had pressure capped by a penalty shot in the first half, but UCLA held on for the win.

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

LONG BEACH, Calif. – A saved penalty in the closing minutes of the first half helped No. 23 UCLA hold off great momentum from the Beach in the first half. The Bruins then broke through with two goals in the second for a 2-0 victory in the third and final game of the current road trip from Long Beach State.

Long Beach State (1-4-0) had some strong defensive plays early before taking control of the game in the final 30 minutes of the first half. Sophomore Brooklyn Antonucci snuffed out an early opportunity for UCLA (2-2-0) in the 8th minute, and then Aurora Schuck made her first save of the game in the 20th minute.

Turning around the play, Long Beach State found Radisson Banks for a rocket from distance that was just turned away by Bruins keeper Daphne Nakfoor. That shot turned the momentum for the Beach, who controlled the action for the rest of the half. Natalie Arnold nearly turned home a shot a minute later, and the key action of the half came in the 35th.

With Long Beach State continuing to build pressure, freshman Natelle El Mokbel earned a penalty, the first of the season for the Beach, and stepped up to the spot. El Mokbel's shot was strong and to the corner, but guessing right on her dive was Nakfoor keeping the game scoreless through the first half, even as LBSU doubled the shots of UCLA.

In the second half, UCLA broke the deadlock as Payten Cooper headed home a cross from Leena Powell. Long Beach State nearly answered as Julie Lopez forced new UCLA goalkeeper Mariangela Medina into a save in the next minute, and the Beach pushed numbers forward looking for an equalizer.

Earning two free kicks in succession in the 64th minute, Long Beach State then forced a corner kick, but in the transition afterward the Bruins were able to find Oruha Hayashi on the counter and UCLA doubled their lead.

Following the three-game road trip, Long Beach State Women's Soccer will now begin a three-game homestand at George Allen Field. The first game of that trio will come on Thursday, September 4 at 7 p.m. against Nevada, with live coverage on ESPN+.