The Long Beach State women’s soccer team shook up the Big West Conference standings Sunday as it edged Cal State Northridge, 2-1, on Senior Day at George Allen Field.
The 49ers’ (11-4-2, 4-1-1 Big West) victory moved them up to second place in the conference with 13 points, while the Matadors (10-8-0, 4-3-0 Big West), who have 12 points, dropped into a tie for third with Pacific.
“If we win out, we’re going to host the [Big West tournament] semifinals,” LBSU head coach Mauricio Ingrassia said. “And I think that any one of the four teams that make the tournament can win.”
Senior midfielder Lindsay Bullock delivered the game-winning goal in the 32nd minute. Midfielder Marysol Rosas fired a cross into the box that found an unmarked Bullock, who then headed it into the far right side of the net. Bullock’s goal marked her sixth of the season, one behind team-leader Nadia Link.
The Beach needed just five minutes to break the scoreless game open as defender Bo Rael’s header from inside of the six-yard box found the back of net. Forward Nicole Sweetman was credited with the assist when her corner kick met Rael for the score.
The Matadors came roaring back in the 24th minute to even up the match. Sonia Espitia sent a cross into the box for forward Heidi Farran, who then fired a shot that bounced past the reach of LBSU goalkeeper Emily Kingsborough and rolled into the net.
Despite holding an 8-4 shot advantage in the first period, the 49ers were held to just one shot in the entire second half, while the Matadors fired off seven.
“Sometimes we’re not going to play the best soccer,” Bullock said. “So I feel like it was tremendous of us that we kept it going and didn’t put our heads down or give up.”
The Matadors, however, failed to convert on several opportunities, including when LBSU forward Jenny Soza was called for a handball in the 75th minute. Matadors’ midfielder Erin Kelly took the free kick, but it sailed just wide of the left post.
In the 84th minute, CSUN defender Desiree Cardenas was called for being offside in the box when her header appeared to cross the goal line before being stopped by Kingsborough.
Two minutes later, Matadors forward Melissa Fernandez took a laser shot from 30 yards out, but Kingsborough managed to stuff it for her third and final save of the contest. Matadors goalkeeper Cynthia Jacobo also tallied three saves.
Despite being out-shot in the match, 11-9, five of The Beach’s attempts came on goal, while CSUN had four on target.
“It was a fantastic character win,” Ingrassia said. “It seemed like the wind picked up in our face a little bit, but I think, for the most part, we continued to make good decisions and we won on will and mentality.”
LBSU can wrap up second place with two victories as it finishes the regular reason with a pair of road games at Pacific (7-6-3, 4-2-0 Big West) on Friday and UC Davis (6-8-1, 1-4-0 Big West) on Sunday. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
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