After back-to-back road trip weekends, a young Long Beach State women’s soccer team has evened the books with a 3-3 record as they return to the friendly confines of George Allen Field today at 4pm to face Pepperdine.
The 49ers traveled almost 9,000 miles over the last two weekends taking on some of the nations best teams in Kansas and Boston. With 18 new kids on the roster, coach Mauricio Ingrassia had some players on their first ever road trip. Click here to read about their road trip to Kansas, but the best story might have been the Friday game against Harvard.
“We need trips like this and it was a great test… against Harvard we fought all the way, but we were dragging a little… it was a difficult road trip,” says coach Ingrassia, who emerged victorious against the Crimson, 2-0. “It was great to see us pull out that win. That was a character win.”
Unfortunately, the win came with a price and Arizona transfer Karina Camacho went down with a sprained MCL. She may be back for the beginning of Big West Conference play, but for a team that was just starting to find an offensive identity, this is a mighty blow.
“(Camacho) was a real link between the midfield and forwards,” says Ingrassia of the junior who tallied two assists and a goal on the road trips. “We have to find a way to adjust up top.” Ingrassia will likely play freshman Markie Gleason more during Camacho’s absence.
While the 49ers try to adjust on offense and get their travel-weary legs back, they will have to deal with a very good Pepperdine team that comes in with a 4-1 record. The Waves are riding a three-game winning streak and has outscored their opponents 7-3. Forward Michelle Spacciapolli has three goals to her credit and Roxanne Barker has manned the net for Pepperdine with 12 saves and a 0.59 goals against average.
Long Beach State is looking for its first victory against Pepperdine as the Waves own a 5-0-0 all-time record in the series. The two teams last met in Malibu on Sept. 1, 2002, with Pepperdine topping the 49ers, 4-1.
After Friday its back on the road for Long Beach as they head south for a match-up with San Diego State on Sunday at Noon. The Aztecs enter the weekend with a 3-3-2 overall record. Cat Walker leads SDSU with three goals and one assist, while Aubree Southwick has anchored the defense with 30 saves and a 1.41 goals against average.
The Beach also trails in its series with San Diego State, 4-2-1, but won the most recent meeting (Sept. 25, 2005) in double overtime.
With Reports From LBSU