Solving arithmetic problems and judicial cases is one thing—beating our Long Beach State women’s soccer team is another.  The Harvard Crimson squad made the Manifest Destiny flight across country only to find a good 49ers team (3-0-1) waiting for them at George Allen Field. It was the Crimson’s season opener and unfortunately for them their GPA and SAT scores could had no say in their 3-nil loss to the ‘Niners.

Sophomore Kristen Kiefer’s goal in the 41^st minute broke a scoreless tie and opened up the offense for the ‘Niners. Kiefer broke free near midfield outrunning the wind and squeezing through four swarming defenders for the brilliant goal.  Three minutes later Senior Hayley Bolt found the net, kicking in a low cross inside the goalie box from Dana Farquhar in the right wing.

Up to that point Harvard was playing scrappy, countering on any Long Beach State miscue.

Goalkeeper Liz Ramos had all her five saves in the first half, two of them on aggressive reads on Crimson through balls keeping them off the board. Harvard’s six shots in the first half matched Long Beach State’s seven but the second half was much in control at the feet of ‘Niners.

Long Beach State has showed many times this season already their ability to open up the field through the wings, but when they find themselves in the heart of the field they floss their strength bullying for the ball. Especially Lindsey Bullock the enforcer.

Harvard lacked the size to go toe-to-toe with the ‘Niners especially Bullock, who in the early going collided midair and knocked out Crimson forward Katherine Shelleigh for the game.

In the 54^th minute Bullocks scored her first goal of the season off a Nicole Hubbard cross. Fittingly, Bullocks knocked down the Crimson goalkeeper en route to opening up space for her shot. Don’t be surprised if the Crimson squad will be having nightmares starring the sophomore for nights to come.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the ‘Niners win was the fact that Bolt, Kiefer and backline leader Sara Baca rested for majority of the second half. Head Coach Mauricio Ingrassia said the team was still tired after their trip to Hawaii last week. Simultaneously, resting the veterans got freshman Shawna Gordon, Marysol Rosas and bench players Sarah Strohl and Yeraldy Hurtado valuable minutes. And they all showed their more than capable of holding ground.

Up next for Long Beach State is a showdown with UNLV ( 3-1-1) noon tomorrow at George Allen Field. The Rebels suffered their first loss of the season to Big West-mate Cal State Northridge (4-0) yesterday, 2-1.