It wasn’t very pretty at times but poise, patience and persistence helped Long Beach State women’s soccer pick up its first win of the season 2-1 in double overtime against University of San Diego on Monday night at George Allen Field.
Kayla Cannon sparked the Beach offense in the first half, and netted the game winner in the 109th minute of double overtime.
“We really needed this win coming off of two tough games against two tough opponents,” Cannon said of starting the season against top ten teams. “This just gets us started for the rest of our preseason.”
USD (2-1) hadn’t given up a goal this season and showed why with great organization on defense against a hard charging Beach attack on the flank led by Cannon. LBSU outshot USD 18-5 for the game but it was scoreless at halftime.
The Beach lost center back Kaitlin Fregulia to an injury late in the first half, but got a spark off of the bench from Lena Silano and Angela Morales. They helped LBSU dominate possession in the second half and break though in the 77th minute when Mackenzie Magaoay poked home a rebound.
USD equalized four minutes later thanks to Milan Moses’ third goal of the season, and the two tired teams went to overtime where there weren’t many more scoring chances before Cannon netted the game winner on an assist from Katie Pingel and flick on from Sierra Castles.
“I knew that we were looking for the quick ball (into the box) so I saw the ball going to Sierra,” Cannon said. “She had a man on her, I was wide open, so I screamed for her to let it go. I knew if I got that proper touch and executed properly that we would finish this.”
It’s the third overtime game in their last five games between LBSU and USD, and it’s only LBSU’s fifth win in 19 meetings.
“She’s an upper classman now and she has to make big plays like that,” LBSU coach Mauricio Ingrassia said of Cannon. “She wants to have a role so bad. It’s great. She has a great tenacity about her that you see on the field.”
LBSU (1-2-0) hosts Nebraska and Drexel next weekend.
