49ers get crushed in San Diego for third straight loss

By Claire Howie
Daily Forty-Niner
Staff Writer

The University of San Diego cruised to a 6-0 victory over visiting Long Beach State Friday night.

Two goals from Marie-Claude Henry and a goal and assist from Kaitlyn Pruett led the Toreros to a dominant offensive performance.

USD (4-3-0) shot 12 times and scored twice in the first half. Toreros' Pruett headed the ball in the back of the net off a corner kick to put the Toreros on the scoreboard at the 13:46 mark. Midfielder

Veronica Ambort also scored in the first half, putting the Toreros up 2-0 after 45 minutes of play.

USD added four more goals in the second half. Henry posted two goals, one from 19 yards out in the 60th minute and another off a cross from outside the box at the 66th minute. Midfielder Shannon Sullivan and forward Lee Klopschinski each scored one goal to finish out the route.

The 49ers (3-3-1) have lost their last three games. LBSU began the season undefeated, but since they began a month-long road trip they have yet to win a game. The road trip began in Hawaii at the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Soccer Classic with games against No. 30-ranked Duke and regionally ranked Hawaii.

49er Head Coach Mauricio Ingrassia feels that the tournament in Hawaii was a very positive experience.

"We played four halfs [in Hawaii] and with each became remarkably stronger," he said. "Our best game was against Hawaii, the team came out strong in the first half and outplayed [Hawaii] in the second."

When the team returned to Long Beach after midnight Thursday, they faced a day full of classes and practice before making the two-hour journey to USD the next day.

"The team played as hard as they could, nobody gave up," Ingrassia said.

Despite the three-game losing streak, Ingrassia is pleased with the team's progress.

"The team has improved every game. We are very strong defensively, we just need to find our offensive rhythm," he said.

The 49ers have been out shot by opponents in nearly every game this season, including those they have won. In practices this week, Ingrassia plans to work on generating better scoring opportunities.

The 49ers continue their road trip Thursday as they depart for Omaha, Nebraska, where they will make their first appearance at the Creighton Classic. When asked what it will take to win at the Creighton Classic, 49er goalkeeper Tara Gotthardt said: "Our defense is solid, we need to take more shots."

The 49ers will face South Dakota State on Friday and Creighton on Sunday.