This week, all of The562’s coverage is sponsored by Long Beach Gives. Visit LongBeachGives.org to find your cause and support local nonprofits! Donations will be accepted through Sept. 21.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2023-24 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl.
True to its “Black & Blue Rivalry” moniker, the Long Beach State women’s soccer team found itself in a physical battle with visiting UC Irvine to open Big West Conference play on Thursday night at George Allen Field.
Thanks to sophomore Julia Moore’s 82nd minute goal, the Beach came away with a 1-1 draw in front of a raucous Long Beach crowd of 1,513.
“(In the) preseason we worked really hard to be in the position we are in,” Moore said. “I think that this game and the way that last season went had a lot of extra emotion behind it… The way the team was able to settle in after giving up one and start playing our game. And with the fans, it really took the entire team.”
LBSU controlled things early with multiple chances to score, but UC Irvine’s Alyssa Moore landed the first punch for the Anteaters after scoring in the 12th minute to take a 1-0 lead.
The Beach had plenty of opportunities in the first half but couldn’t convert after earning seven shots and four corner kicks.
“It was a good match,” LBSU coach Mauricio Ingrassia said. “It feels good to come from behind in front of this great crowd that we just had. I told the kids at halftime time to give (the crowd) something to talk about, to cheer about. They’ll give us energy.’”
The crowd did just that as the Beach pressured the Anteater defense to start the second half and kept UC Irvine goalkeeper Glo Hinojosa busy. She finished with three saves.
LBSU goalkeeper Zora Standifer had four saves at the other end and was able to have a clean second half of play to give the Beach time to get the equalizer.
With eight minutes remaining, Moore ran across and onto a bouncing ball at the top of the UCI 18-yard box where she lashed it home with her left foot. LBSU outshot UCI 13-9.
In the second half there were four yellow cards, two for each team.
The Beach will now wrap up the non-conference schedule by hosting host Northern Colorado on Sunday at 1 p.m. LBSU will recognize its three graduates Katarina Decaroli, Aleea Caceres and Elysia Laramie prior to the game.
