By It happened so fast.
The score was tied 1-1 in overtime, but it seemed the Long Beach State women’s soccer team had the momentum against Cal Poly.
Then, Cal Poly’s Erica Zumbahlen found some open space down the right flank, crossed the ball into the middle of the penalty box to Kelsey Carrol and Carrol one-touched the ball past a diving Liz Ramos to score the game-winner in the 103rd minute.
Just like that, Cal Poly (10-6-3) knocked out LBSU (14-5-1) from the semifinals of the Big West Tournament at George Allen Field Friday afternoon, beating the 49ers 2-1.
“That’s soccer,” said LBSU defender Natalie Messina. “It is what happens sometimes. By the way we played I thought we deserved to win that game.”
The loss ended the chance for LBSU to win the Big West championship and automatically qualify for the NCAA Tournament which starts next week.
Instead, LBSU will find out today if it will qualify for the tournament as an at-large team. The women’s soccer section show will be broadcasted at noon today on ESPNEWS.
“We came out a little sluggish to start the game, but I was proud of the way we came back in the second half and we had our chances,” said LBSU head coach Mauricio Ingrassia. “Now we will have to wait to see what happens on Monday.”
The Mustangs got on the scoreboard in the 15th minute when Zumbahlen had the ball fall to her at the top of the box and then unleashed a strike that went just inside the right post.
LBSU would tie the match in the 67th minute.
Kim Silos sent a corner kick into the Cal Poly penalty area, and after a scramble in front of the goal, Sahar Haghden got a foot on the ball that snuck across the goal line to tie the match at one.
In the Big West conference final Sunday, Cal State Fullerton beat Cal Poly 2-1.
