The No. 23-ranked Long Beach State women’s soccer team rallied from a one-goal deficit late in the second half, but it wasn’t enough as the 49ers fell to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 3-2, at the Milwaukee Cup on Friday at Engelmann Stadium.
Junior Nadia Link netted her first goal of the season and added an assist, while sophomore Kelsey Wilson scored the game-tying goal. Senior Shawna Gordon was also credited with her 15th career assist, which moved her into a tie for fifth place in the LBSU all-time assist charts.
Tied at 2, Milwaukee midfielder Keara Thompson delivered the game-winning goal as she knocked in a curling shot from the top of the 18-yard box in the 79th minute to give the Panthers a 3-2 edge they would never relinquish.
LBSU (2-1-0) finished with seven shot attempts and was led by senior Nicole Hubbard, who compiled three shots, two of which were on target. Link also tallied three attempts. Senior goalkeeper Kaitlyn Gustaves had three saves in her first loss of the year.
The Beach took the early lead over the Panthers (3-0-0) when Link dented the scoreboard just three and a half minutes into the match. Gordon’s pass from 30 yards out found Link, who dribbled past Milwaukee’s diving goalkeeper Jamie Forbes in the box before scoring on an open net.
The Panthers (3-0-0) responded at the 15:17 mark, however, when senior striker Sarah Hagen, who is the school’s and Horizon League’s career record holder in goals and points, headed in a cross from the end line. Hagen tacked on one more in the 37th minute to give Milwaukee a 2-1 advantage at the break.
The 49ers evened it up in the second period when Link sent a cross from the left wing to Wilson, who headed the ball to the far post at the 70:48 mark.
LBSU will close out the Milwaukee Cup on Sunday when it heads to No. 13 Marquette for a 9 a.m. (PT) showdown.
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