49ers
win despite lackluster performance
Soccer:
In a game that was slow at times women's
soccer manages to net one
goal for victory versus Weber State.
By
Daniel Frias
On-line Forty-Niner
The
Long Beach State women's soccer team improved
their record to 4-5-0 as they beat Weber
State Saturday 1-0 at George Allen Field
in a game that was far from spectacular.
"I'm
happy with the victory," said 49er
head coach Peter Reynaud. "It wasn't
a pretty win. It's not one of our best games
played. But I'll take it."
The
49ers dominated the first half not allowing
Weber State past the midfield line.
Despite not playing one of its better games,
the 49ers were still able to move the ball
and create
scoring opportunities throughout the first
half.
The
teams first clear shot to put themselves
on the scoreboard came at the 11 minute
mark when senior Abie Curry spun around
her defender and shot the ball right at
the goalie from just outside the goal box.
The
second opportunity came just a few minutes
later when junior forward Allison Wiegand
shot the ball from 15 yards out only to
have it hit the right post.
Minutes
later Wiegand again took a shot at the goal
when she faked out her defender, dribbled
to the middle and kicked a right cross that
was blocked by the opposing team's goalie.
Wiegand was all over the field throughout
the game creating shots and making things
happen for The Beach.
"Wiegand
is a player," said Reynaud. "She's
got lots of speed. If we had 11 Wiegands
[on the team] we would win a lot of games."
Things
changed for Weber State in the second half
as they were able to generate some offense
and get the ball to the other side of the
field.
But
like the 49ers they blew several opportunities
to get the ball past the goal line.
There
was a scary moment for the 49ers in the
second half as co-captain defender Lauren
Doffing went down after a collision with
a Weber State player.
Doffing
headed the ball out of the air just before
being run over by a Weber State player.
Doffing went down in pain and didn't get
up for several minutes.
"I
got Dizzy," said Doffing, who got up
and played the rest of the game. "I
got kicked in the stomach. I couldn't catch
my breath."
"She's
a pretty tough girl," said Reynaud.
"I expected her to stay in the game.
She's a tough girl."
The
49ers lone goal came off the left foot of
Wiegand with 15 minutes to play in the game.
Wiegand
was running down the left wing when she
received a pass from teammate Nicole Cross
that allowed Wiegand to chip the ball over
the goalies' hand and into net for the game
winner.
"Honestly
I couldn't have gotten a better ball than
Nicole gave me," said Wiegand. "I
touched it and it was in. The good set up
made it easier to finish."
Despite
the blown opportunities and lackluster team
play, the 49ers were able to come up with
what matters most in soccer, a win.
"It
was not one of our greatest games played,"
said Doffing. "We weren't on today.
But we were able to come away with a win...and
a win is a win. We'll take it."
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