49er
women’s soccer fall to UCR in
shootout
By Daniel Kim
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer
Long Beach State women’s soccer team battled and lost to UC Riverside Sunday
afternoon in the first game of the Big West Tournament.
The top four teams in the Big West Conference qualify for the tournament. Cal
State Fullerton, UC Riverside, LBSU, and Pacific all qualified, with No.1 Cal
State Fullerton hosting the tournament.
The opening game featured UC Riverside versus LBSU, two evenly matched teams.
The two teams had played each other two weeks prior ending in a 0-0 tie. Great
play by both teams and excellent goaltending extended the scoring drought for
two more halves and two overtime periods. The game would have ended in
another 0-0 tie had it been a regular game, but because it was the playoffs,
the game was decided by a penalty kick shootout.
Despite the loss, LBSU held the shots on goal advantage over Riverside 12-7.
“
For big parts of the game, I thought we created the more dangerous
chances. I thought we controlled the play for about 60 to 70 percent of
the game. To end like this is tough,” said Head Coach Mauricio Ingrassia.
LBSU had several chances to score. In the 28th minute, midfielder Sahar
Haghdan broke free from her defender with a good move, but her shot was blocked
by goalkeeper Tawny Poggio of UC Riverside.
In the 80th minute, Jenna Leonti of UCR got by goalkeeper Liz Ramos but her shot
sailed just right of an empty goal. It was the Highlander’s best
chance of scoring.
LBSU mounted one final attack with 35 seconds left in regulation. A corner
kick found several 49ers in front of the Highlander net but a header went just
left of the goal.
Both overtimes passed without a score for either team and a penalty kick shootout
was called.
LBSU missed the first two penalty shots but scored on its next two. They
needed a miss by the Highlanders who scored on their previous three shots. Melina
Triantos for UCR kicked the final goal into the net ending the game and the season
for LBSU.
“
I think that we’re both really equal. We’re just extremely
even teams, its hard to decide who is better when the game is decided with penalty
kicks,” said midfielder Haley Bolt. “Sometimes it just doesn’t
turn out your way, that’s just how it is.”
“
After the sting of the loss is gone, you have to take your hat off to our young
women who battled. To end like this is tough but we feel proud that we
walk out of this game with our heads up high having played very well. It’s
just a great experience for our players. We had a great season. I
think the kids stepped up very big all year long,” said Ingrassia.
“
I think this is just the beginning of an awesome program. In the next few years
we’ll just get better and better,” said Bolt.
LBSU had a wonderful second season under the tutelage of Ingrassia. They
doubled the number of wins from last year and broke several school records and
recorded many firsts in school history.
The 49ers end their season with a record of 12-5-3. The 12 wins matched
the record for most wins in school history.
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