In a fresh restart to its season, the Long Beach State women’s soccer team split its first two Big West Conference matches with a 2-0 loss to Cal Poly and a 2-1 win over UC Santa Barbara.
The 49ers (7-5-0, 1-1 Big West) opened conference play at Cal Poly on Friday the same way it closed its nonconference season on Monday: with a shutout loss.
The ‘Niners followed up a productive nonconference slate by dropping their conference opener with a 2-0 loss to the Mustangs (5-6-0, 1-0 Big West).
After a scoreless first half, Cal Poly forward Elise Krieghoff opened up the second half for the Mustangs by scoring two goals in two minutes.
Krieghoff took a good look by lofting a ball over the top post in the 54th minute. Just over 30 seconds later, Krieghoff scored the game’s first goal with an open shot from the top of the box.
Two minutes later, the Mustangs extended their lead to 2-0 with another goal by Kreighoff off an assist by midfielder Sara Lancaster.
Friday’s game was the first time that McCain had allowed more than one goal since her first career start on Sept. 1, when she allowed two goals to Texas Tech.
Freshman forward Paige Conway made her collegiate debut for the 49ers on Friday, leading the team with four shots.
The 49ers then headed 100 miles south to Santa Barbara, where they broke out of their offensive slump with a pair of first-half goals.
Senior Jessica Oseguera and junior Taylor Nelson each found the back of the net to lead LBSU to a 2-1 win.
The ‘Niners got on the board in the 31st minute when Oseguera poked a shot past the UCSB goalkeeper after several LBSU shots were blocked.
Nelson put The Beach ahead by two six minutes later with a strike from 25 yards out that sailed into net.
The Gauchos (7-5-1, 1-1 Big West) cut their deficit in half in the 55th minute when Angelisa Cortez found the back of the net. It was all UCSB would end up with, though, as the 49er defense held strong to preserve the win.
The ‘Niners will play their first Big West home match on Thursday when UC Davis visits George Allen Field for a 7 p.m. match.
