The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2022-23 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach soccer for the 2022-23 season is sponsored by Beach Futbol Club.
Long Beach State women’s soccer was tested early and often Thursday night as they hosted Cal State Fullerton.
In the first 10 minutes of the contest, the Titans had four corner kicks testing the Beach’s defense and goalkeeper Zora Standifer.
Standifer held tough as the defense bent but didn’t break and Sophie Jones got Long Beach State on the board first when she scored on an assist from Lena Silano in the 11th minute to take a 1-0 lead.
“This year we have a lot of goal scorers,” Jones said. “We’re really getting our rhythm as a team.
The Beach held on to defeat CSUF, 2-1 to move into a tie at the top of a Big West standings heading into another big test as LBSU travels to take on Hawai’i on Sunday.
“The first few corners I could’ve done better,” Standifer said. “We got used to it, we got used to how intense they are, and we were just easily able to clear it out.”
Silano put the Beach up 2-0 when she scored on a penalty kick after being fouled in the box in the 34th minute.
LBSU continued to put pressure on the Titans back line, but wasn’t able to add to their lead on multiple occasions.
Emelia Owen cut LBSU’s lead to 2-1 as the Titans were able to get on the board after a set piece.
“We kind of exorcized those ghosts of being up 2-0,” Long Beach State coach Mauricio Ingrassia said. “I think that’s where you saw some nerves. We had golden opportunities to go up 3-0, and have the game be over. Unfortunately, we missed some easy goals.”
The Beach will travel to Hawaii for a game Sunday and won’t return home for a game until Oct. 16 against CSUN.
