Cochrun earns first career shutouts in net

By Phil Witte
Daily Forty-Niner

Ending a seven-game losing streak in emphatic fashion, the Long Beach State women's soccer team posted back-to-back shutout victories on a road trip to central California last weekend.

The Beach (5-7-1, 2-2-0) only needed a lone second-half goal from junior Kim Domen to defeat Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (6-5-1, 1-1-0) Sunday.

The battle lasted until three minutes into overtime Friday before freshman Lacy Brown's third goal of the season knocked off host UC Santa Barbara (5-6-1, 0-1-0).

Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Hannah Cochrun, who had been splitting time in goal with sophomore Jihan Elgazzar, started her first career games this weekend and earned both shutouts.

WOMEN'S SOCCER

"Hannah has some great strengths and she is great with her feet," said 49er Head Coach Julie Cochran. "We've been splitting our goalkeepers in the past few games and she appeared to be ready for the game this week."

Domen's goal eight minutes into the second half against Cal Poly SLO Sunday came off sophomore Sarah Gamet's corner kick. Domen's goal was her first of the season and second career tally for The Beach.

The Mustangs outshot the 49ers 11 to seven for the game, and Cochrun made five saves for her second consecutive shutout.

Friday's win broke a seven-game losing streak for The Beach, which included five one-goal games.

"There was a huge sense of relief after the win," Cochran said. "It was like we won the World Cup. The whole bench cleared and we celebrated on the field."

The teams battled for a scoreless 90 minutes, with the 49ers outshooting the Gauchos 11 to eight in regulation. Brown's goal came on the first shot of the extra frame, going off the right crossbar past Gaucho goalie Mary Gleason.

"We battled the whole second half and then we dominated in overtime," Cochran said. "It wasn't a pretty goal, but it went in."

Brown's goal, her third of the season, moved her into a tie with senior Jennifer Reott and freshman Marcia Rewoldt with seven points on the season.

The wins moved The Beach into a three-way tie for second in the Big West with Pacific and Cal State Fullerton at 2-2, one game behind UC Irvine (8-3-2, 3-1-0).

Next up for the team is a home game Saturday at 1:00 p.m. against University of the Pacific (7-5-1, 2-2-0). The Tigers had the opposite results this weekend, losing 2-1 to Cal Poly SLO in overtime and 1-0 to UCSB.

Historically, Pacific has been the 49ers' toughest opponent, winning 4-0 last year and 7-1 in 1998.