Long Beach State University Athletics
Thursday, August 20
Fresno, Calif.
7 p.m.
Long Beach State University
2-0-1, 0-0-0
5
at
0
Fresno State
0-3-0, 0-0-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Beach St. | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Fresno St. | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Cox Hat Trick Powers Long Beach State Past Fresno State, 5-0
8/20/2026 9:43:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Long Beach State scores five in their first road match of the season as Cherrie Cox records the first hat trick of her career
FRESNO, Calif. -- Cherrie Cox recorded her first career hat trick as Long Beach State erupted for a 5-0 victory over Fresno State Thursday night at Bulldog Soccer Stadium in the Beach's first road match of the 2026 season.
Long Beach State (2-0-1) remained unbeaten through their first three matches while posting a third consecutive shutout to begin the campaign. The Beach has yet to concede a goal through 270 minutes this season.
Taylor Bellotti and Kana Uchida each scored their first collegiate goals to give Long Beach State a 2-0 halftime advantage before Cox took over after the break, scoring three times in a span of 17 minutes to complete the 5-0 result.
The Beach wasted little time taking control in their first road match of the season. Radisson Banks carried the ball up the left side from midfield before finding Bellotti, who struck from outside the box and buried her shot to put Long Beach State in front just a minute into the match. The goal was the first of Bellotti's collegiate career and ultimately stood as the game-winner.
Long Beach State doubled their advantage in the 29th minute on another strike from distance. Cassidy Drago found Uchida outside the box, and Uchida fired her shot into the net. The strike at 28:58 was the first goal of Uchida's career, coming in her 58th appearance for the Beach, while Drago picked up the first assist of her collegiate career.
Leading 2-0 at halftime, the Beach quickly put the match out of reach behind Cox.
Cox scored back-to-back goals less than nine minutes apart to extend the lead. On both finishes, Cox skillfully maneuvered around a Fresno State defender before arcing her shot into the back of the net from the right side of the box.
Cox then completed the first hat trick of her career, converting a penalty kick to finish off the scoring at 5-0. It marked the first hat trick by a Long Beach State player since Elysia Laramie scored four goals against Boston College on Aug. 19, 2023.
The three-goal performance established career highs for Cox in both goals and points in a match. Cox now has four goals through the Beach's first three matches of the season and has scored four of Long Beach State's six goals on the year.
Uchida's goal was another career milestone. After recording six assists across her first three seasons, the senior defender scored for the first time in her 58th career appearance.
Long Beach State controlled the match statistically, finishing with a 20-7 advantage in shots while putting nine attempts on target compared to three for Fresno State.
The Beach generated eight shots in the opening half before increasing the pressure after halftime with 12 shots over the final 45 minutes. Cox accounted for three of those attempts, putting all three into the back of the net.
Aurora Schuck made three saves to secure her third consecutive shutout and improve to 2-0-1 on the season. Schuck has stopped all eight shots on goal she has faced through 270 minutes this year. The clean sheet was the 13th solo shutout of her Long Beach State career.
Long Beach State continues their first road trip of the season on Sunday, Aug. 23, traveling to Las Cruces to take on New Mexico State at 7 p.m.
Long Beach State (2-0-1) remained unbeaten through their first three matches while posting a third consecutive shutout to begin the campaign. The Beach has yet to concede a goal through 270 minutes this season.
Taylor Bellotti and Kana Uchida each scored their first collegiate goals to give Long Beach State a 2-0 halftime advantage before Cox took over after the break, scoring three times in a span of 17 minutes to complete the 5-0 result.
The Beach wasted little time taking control in their first road match of the season. Radisson Banks carried the ball up the left side from midfield before finding Bellotti, who struck from outside the box and buried her shot to put Long Beach State in front just a minute into the match. The goal was the first of Bellotti's collegiate career and ultimately stood as the game-winner.
Long Beach State doubled their advantage in the 29th minute on another strike from distance. Cassidy Drago found Uchida outside the box, and Uchida fired her shot into the net. The strike at 28:58 was the first goal of Uchida's career, coming in her 58th appearance for the Beach, while Drago picked up the first assist of her collegiate career.
Leading 2-0 at halftime, the Beach quickly put the match out of reach behind Cox.
Cox scored back-to-back goals less than nine minutes apart to extend the lead. On both finishes, Cox skillfully maneuvered around a Fresno State defender before arcing her shot into the back of the net from the right side of the box.
Cox then completed the first hat trick of her career, converting a penalty kick to finish off the scoring at 5-0. It marked the first hat trick by a Long Beach State player since Elysia Laramie scored four goals against Boston College on Aug. 19, 2023.
The three-goal performance established career highs for Cox in both goals and points in a match. Cox now has four goals through the Beach's first three matches of the season and has scored four of Long Beach State's six goals on the year.
Uchida's goal was another career milestone. After recording six assists across her first three seasons, the senior defender scored for the first time in her 58th career appearance.
Long Beach State controlled the match statistically, finishing with a 20-7 advantage in shots while putting nine attempts on target compared to three for Fresno State.
The Beach generated eight shots in the opening half before increasing the pressure after halftime with 12 shots over the final 45 minutes. Cox accounted for three of those attempts, putting all three into the back of the net.
Aurora Schuck made three saves to secure her third consecutive shutout and improve to 2-0-1 on the season. Schuck has stopped all eight shots on goal she has faced through 270 minutes this year. The clean sheet was the 13th solo shutout of her Long Beach State career.
Long Beach State continues their first road trip of the season on Sunday, Aug. 23, traveling to Las Cruces to take on New Mexico State at 7 p.m.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Soccer
MF/D
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
F/MF
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's SoccerTeam Stats
LBS
FST
Goals
5
0
Shots
20
7
Shots on Goal
9
3
Saves
3
4
Corners
9
3
Fouls
9
10
Scoring Plays
Taylor Bellotti (1)
Assisted By: Radisson Banks
GOAL by LBS Bellotti, Taylor Assist by Banks, Radisson.
01:03
Kana Uchida (1)
Assisted By: Cassidy Drago
GOAL by LBS Uchida, Kana Assist by Drago, Cassidy.
28:58
Cherrie Cox (3)
GOAL by LBS Cox, Cherrie.
48:28
Cherrie Cox (3)
GOAL by LBS Cox, Cherrie.
56:42
Cherrie Cox (3)
LBS Cherrie Cox PENALTY KICK GOAL.
65:29
Game Leaders
mid
Shots
3
SOG
3
Goals
3
Assists
0
def
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Tuesday, August 06
Tuesday, September 03
Sunday, November 04
Thursday, August 23
