FRESNO, Calif. – Two teams scraping and clawing for 90 minutes, Fresno State came out on the wrong end of a 1-0 score line, falling to Long Beach State on Sunday afternoon at Bulldog Stadium. While it was the Beach with the upper hand in the opening 45, the Bulldogs put one scare after another into the visitors during the final 45.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Fresno State had the opening shot of the day, a low attempt from Megan Galvan that was scooped up by Zora Standifer in the opening minutes. From that point on, the Bulldogs were under heavy pressure throughout the half with seven shots coming from LBSU. While only one was on target for the Beach, the visitors made it count. In the 40th minute, Julie Lopez whipped in a cross to the back post. Jordan Candelaria tapped it in after the ball bounced off the inside of the post.
Heavily outshot in the opening 45, the 'Dogs came out on the front foot. Already with three attempts in the first 10 minutes, the 'Dogs kept coming. In the 65th, quality link up play in the attacking third set up Laura Mas with a screamer from just outside the top of the box but her shot headed for the underside of the crossbar was tipped up and over by Standifer.
Coming in on the 70th minute, Sabrina Welch made an immediate impact. Heading down a corner toward goal, an LBSU defender was able to knock it away. Katie Morris then sent in a cross that found the head of Jordan Lau but Standifer was there.Then on another counter in the 72nd minute, Adriana Maldonado had a header attempt that fell into the arms of the Beach keeper.
With time dwindling, Morris sent a free kick to the top of the 18 that was headed up in the air five times before falling toward Kaya Scott. Making a sliding effort at the ball, the sophomore's attempt drifted wide right of the post.
NOTES
Fresno State outshot Long Beach State 12-11 after trailing 7-2 at the half in attempts.
Fresno State had nine corners to LBSU's four.
Laura Mas had a team-high two shots on target.
Six Bulldogs played the full 90 minutes.
UP NEXT
Fresno State will travel down to Riverside next week to face UC Riverside on Thursday and Cal Baptist on Sunday.