The Long Beach State women’s soccer team looks to continue its winning streak this Friday at George Allen Field. The 49ers are set to hit the field against the Utah State Aggies at 5 p.m.
The 49ers face the Aggies with a 3-1-0 overall record in the standings. The three wins propelled LBSU into the top 25 of the Soccer America poll. It’s the first time LBSU has entered the national rankings since 2008.
“It’s going to be a tough game, good opponent,” Head coach Mauricio Ingrassia said. “Another game we have to solve.”
LBSU has an average of one goal per game and is 16-for-34 in shots on goal attempts.
Sophomore Nadia Link put four goals into the net in the last three games, but she doesn’t take all the credit for her performance during that span.
“It’s a team effort. We have a fun mentality, which is helping us be as strong as we can,” said Link, who was named Big West Conference Offensive Player of the Week.
Led by Heather Cairns, the winningest coach in the school’s history, the Aggies are 2-0-1 this season with a two goals per game average. Twenty-two of Utah State’s 50 shot attempts have come on goal this season.
Coming off a scoreless overtime draw against Idaho State, Utah State goalkeeper Molli Merrill recorded her second shutout and became the Western Athletic Conference’s Defensive Player of the Week.
Utah State was picked before the season as the favorite to win the conference by the league’s nine head coaches. Junior forward Shantel Flannary was selected as the WAC 2010 Preseason Player of the Year. Flannary earned the award last season.
The Beach will host the Sacramento State Hornets (1-3-0) on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Hornets, led by head coach Randy Dedini, have made just three goals in their four games. Coming off a loss against San Jose State, Sacramento State will be looking to sting the 49ers.
Ingrassia said LBSU is going into the game with no fear of a letdown after defeating two ranked opponents last weekend.
Although the team is getting positive results early on in the season, Ingrassia said, “We’re going to be ourselves. We weren’t the worst team in the country before, not the best now.”
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