Women’s Soccer Earns Black and Blue Rivalry Road Win - Long Beach State University Athletics

Saturday, October 17

Irvine, Calif.

6 p.m.

Long Beach State University

8-3-5, 2-2-3

UC Irvine

4-7-3, 2-4-1

Team	1	2	Final F
Long Beach St.	0	2	2
UC Irvine	0	1	1

10/17/2026 8:34:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Ameera White earns her first career brace in rivalry win.

By: James Hanson, Assistant Director, Athletic Communications

IRVINE, Calif. – Ameera White buried two penalties as the Long Beach State women's soccer team defeated UC Irvine 2-1 in the Black and Blue Rivalry at Anteater Stadium on Saturday night. The Beach dominated possession in the attacking third as they outshot the Anteaters 13-6 and earned all seven corners in the match.

After UC Irvine (4-7-3, 2-4-1 Big West) sailed the first shot of the game above the goalpost, Long Beach State (8-3-5, 2-2-3 Big West) applied pressure in the attacking third as the Beach fired off three shots within a two-minute span but couldn't connect on any of their attempts.

Following another off target attempt from UC Irvine, Long Beach State continued to keep its foot on the gas. The Beach earned a corner, and Cherrie Cox received the entry and lined the ball towards the bottom right of the net but was denied by the goalie. Though Ameera White and Olivia Yu also registered shots in the opening frame, the Beach couldn't break through, and the two teams headed to the half all square, 0-0.

The second half proved similar the first as the Anteaters took the first shot, while the Beach responded with the next four attempts of the game, but once again, couldn't convert. Continuing to apply pressure on the Anteaters, Natalie Arnold earned a penalty for the Beach as her shot hit off a defender's arm inside the box. From there, Ameera White buried the penalty to give the Beach a 1-0 advantage in the 74th minute.

Though the Beach finally broke through and gained the lead, their advantage was short lived as the Anteaters tied the game in the ensuing minute. After surrendering the equalizer, the Beach earned another penalty as the Anteaters were called for a second handball inside the box, and White put the Beach back in front as she connected on the penalty and earned her first career Brace in the 78th minute.

UC Irvine seemed destined to find another equalizer as the Anteaters earned their own penalty in the 79th minute thanks to a foul inside the box. However, the attempt sailed well over the crossbar, and Long Beach State held on to its 2-1 edge.

Long Beach State's defense held strong as the Beach did not allow the Anteaters to get a shot off in the final 11 minutes, and the Beach held on to a 2-1 victory at Anteater Stadium on Saturday night.

Long Beach State remains on the road for a contest at UC San Diego on Wednesday, October 21 at 7 p.m. A link to the ESPN+ stream and live stats can be found on the women's soccer schedule page on longbeachstate.com.