Last weekend, the visitor’s locker room in Lawrence, Kansas was the lowest place possible for the Long Beach State Women’s Soccer team.  Five days prior, the 49ers had given up four goals to the UCLA Bruins at home, and in the first half of their game against the Kansas Jayhawks, they looked overmatched and fell behind, 3-0.

So, how is it possible that the team was all smiles this week during training back in Long Beach before they leave for Boston?  The simple answer is a win, which the 49er got two days later against Missouri, 4-1.  But the real answer is much more personal than that— or personnel, if you will.

This slow personnel shift started in the season’s first two games against Fresno State and UCLA when coach Mauricio Ingrassia gave Alex Balcer a chance to start as a true freshman.  The Arizona native impressed her coach and teammates in early action and has become an integral part of the 49er defense.

Meanwhile in the midfield, Arizona University transfer Karina Camacho was also getting comfortable with new teammates.  Coach Ingrassia was excited during the pre-season about Camacho’s natural talent— particularly her last touch ability— but was unsure how long it would take her to find, “her place on the field with this team.”

Also in the backline, Ingrassia knew he had a hidden offensive gem at right back with Nicole Hubbard.  The junior set the goals scored record at Mayfair High and nearly scored twice against Fresno State coming out of the back.

Flash back to the start of the second half in the game against Kansas.  Hubbard had banged her knee in the first half, and Ingrassia brought it some fresh defensive legs to better pressure the Jayhawk attack.  He put Hubbard up top at left forward to provided a target for Comacho, and Balser filled in for Hubbard.  The moves worked, the 49ers out shot Kansas 9-5 in the second half, and Comacho scored in the 73^rd minute.

Two days later against Big12 favorite Missouri, the new personnel combination maintained the momentum; all culminating in a six minute stretch late in the second half.

Minutes after Jenny Soza netted her first collegiate goal to give Long Beach at 2-1 lead, Balcer got a turnover and sent it to Camacho to start the counter attack.  Camacho charged hard at the center defender to set up a three-on-three with Hubbard on her left and Whitney Valez on her right.  Camacho stepped over the ball twice and gave it to Valez, who sent her second touch across the goalmouth where Hubbard walked it in for her first goal of the season.  Two minutes later, Camacho took the ball at the corner of the box and sent a cross to the far post where Hubbard met it with her head for the fourth goal of the day.

In other words, it clicked.  Or as Ingrassia said this week after training, “it was a very positive road trip… we’re starting to find our form.”

The 49ers will look to continue the new found success on the road this weekend in Boston with games against Harvard on Friday and No. 5 Boston College on Sunday.

Come back to LBPostSports for roadie updates from Boston!