By Talk about an anti-climax.
Long Beach State women’s soccer came into its final match of the regular season as the Big West regular season champion, guaranteed to host the four-team Big West Tournament starting Friday.
But LBSU will have to go into this weekend’s conference tournament after a loss, as the 49ers fell to UC Riverside 3-0 at George Allen Field Sunday afternoon.
“This loss is going to sting for a couple days, but it doesn’t take away from what we accomplished this season,” said LBSU head coach Mauricio Ingrassia. “We will be ready for next week.”
After a scoreless first half, the Highlanders got goals from Heidi Garrett, Ashley Parks and Linda Allen during a 16-minute span in the middle of the second half to hand LBSU its first home and conference loss of the season.
LBSU was without midfielder Hayley Bolt, who is second on the team in goals and assists.
According to Ingrassia, Bolt injured her left ankle during practice on Friday and her sitting out Sunday’s match was “precautionary.” Ingrassia said he expects Bolt to play in the Big West Tournament this weekend.
LBSU and UC Riverside had played in three consecutive 0-0 ties before the Highlanders’ victory. UC Riverside knocked out LBSU in the Big West Tournament last year, winning on penalty kicks after both teams were scoreless through regulation and overtime.
On Wednesday, LBSU clinched its first ever Big West regular season championship, beating Cal State Fullerton 1-0.
Kim Silos scored the match’s only goal with 25 seconds remaining in the first half. With the goal, Silos became the all-time leading goal scorer in 49er history.
The Big West Tournament will kick off at 11 a.m. on Friday at George Allen Field.
By press time Sunday, it was not clear who the 49ers will meet in the Big West semifinal, but UC Santa Barbara, CS Fullerton, Cal Poly and LBSU will be the four teams competing in the conference tournament.
