Women's soccer suffers tough weekend

By R. S. Hakes , On-Line Forty-Niner

Monday, September 28, 1998

 

Last week, the Long Beach State women's soccer team showcased its inexperience and suffered two defeats to two extremely tough opponents.

The Beach went south on Wednesday and lost to the University of San Diego 2-1. However, the close score does not depict USD's lopsided dominance of the game. Friday, the Beach returned home to George Allen Field for its Big West Conference opener and received a brutal 7-1 beating by Pacific.

USD dominated the first half and nearly the entire game with outstanding passing and ball control. Aimee Wagstaff struck first for USD in the 16th minute, which led to a 1-0 half-time lead. Wagstaff scored again in the 63rd minute and increased USD's lead 2-0.

Nicole Avila scored for the Beach in the 66th minute off Jenna Koontz's free kick from mid-field. USD goalkeeper Leila Duren punched Koontz shot out into the box and Avila hammered it back into the goal.

The Beach could not establish any sort of passing network, which resulted in a lack of offensive scoring opportunities. The Beach had six shots on goal and only two corner-kick situations. Compare those numbers with USD's 25 shots on goal and its nine corner kicks and the real story begins to unfold.

The Beach's goalkeeper Michaeli Ramage had eight saves on the day, while USD's Duren had none. Avila's goal was the Beach's only real scoring opportunity.

Jennifer Reott received a red card in the 74th minute for a late tackle from behind. This added to the Beach's list of woes. Monica Reade is still injured and Reott will be suspended for the red card.

Friday turned out to be a nightmare for the Beach when the Tigers (6-1-1) ravaged the Beach 7-1. It was the most lopsided defeat suffered by the Beach in its entire 11 game history.

The only highlight for the Beach was Lori Harris's fifth goal of the season, which came off Kim Stempkowski's corner kick in the 56th minute.

The Beach fell last week to (4-7) on the season and (0-1) in Big West Conference play. The Beach will return to action at 1 p.m. this Friday against Boise State, here at George Allen Field.

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