Feb. 28, 2015
SAN DIEGO - No. 12 San Diego State dropped a narrow 5-4 decision to 15th-ranked Long Beach State Saturday afternoon at Aztec Aquaplex. The loss puts SDSU's season record at 6-8, while the 49ers improve to 7-7.
Much like Friday, the Aztecs jumped out to an early lead, this time scoring 56 seconds into the game when Caroline Israels found the back of the net. But like Friday, San Diego State could not hold its lead and went through a lengthy scoring drought.
Long Beach State evened the score when Rachel Cretcher's shot was knocked down by Rachel Mitchell, who had 10 saves, and slowly crossed the goal line. Then in the second quarter, SDSU experienced more bad luck when Justine Morgan's backhander fell short of the goal line and, again, slowly crossed the goal line. As time was running out on the first half, a loose ball was in front of the net, but Virginia Smith beat Mitchell to the ball and flipped it over her to help the 49ers take a 3-1 lead at halftime.
The Aztecs broke their dry spell early in the third quarter when Israels received a pass from Hermann and slotted her shot into the upper corner of the cage. Just over six minutes later, Ioli Benekou tied the game with a strike from the left side.
In the deciding fourth quarter, the 49ers received a goal from Jessica Brooks in the opening minute and added a Kayla Robert goal with 4:36 left in the game. Taylor Gums sliced SDSU's deficit in half with a goal into the lower right corner after securing an offensive rebound off a Nikole Ferrari attempt. San Diego State had one last chance to force overtime, but Israels' shot with 15 seconds remaining in the contest was stopped.
SDSU returns to action on Saturday, March 7, when it plays at California Baptist. The Golden Coast contest is set for 1 p.m. PT.
No. 15 Long Beach State 5, No. 12 San Diego State 4
Aztec Aquaplex; San Diego, Calif.
LBSU 1-2-0-2--5
SDSU 1-0-2-1--4
LBSU goals: Cretcher, Morgan, Robert, Brooks
SDSU goals: Israels 2, Benekou, Gums
LBSU saves: Harris 9
SDSU saves: Mitchell 10