LB Women's Soccer Team, Ranked 11th in the U.S., Outlasts Michigan Sunday

From an earlier defeat, the nationally ranked Long Beach State women’s soccer team bounced back Sunday in dramatic fashion, scoring two goals in the final two minutes to beat the visiting Michigan Wolverines 2-1 at George Allen Field.

Before Thursday night’s 1-0 loss to the BYU Cougars, the Beach won its first three matches, resulting in being ranked 11^th in the country.

The win gives head coach Maruicio Ingrassia his 100^th victory as the coach of the 49ers.

“I felt that we deserved the win,” Ingrassia said. “We had opportunities which we could have given us a two- or three-goal lead.  It was huge that Nadia (Link) stepped up in the moment to hit the shot.”

A hand ball call at the 88^th minute mark gave Link a penalty kick which she nailed in the left corner to tie the score at 1-1.

Kelsey Wilson then scored on a free kick a minute later to take the 2-1 lead for good.

"It was fitting for Kelsey (Wilson) to take the shot.  She beat us on the same exact free kick in 2009 as a freshman at LMU, Ingrassia said with a laugh.

The game was a defensive struggle throughout the match with the Beach being the busier of the two teams as they outshot Michigan 17-9, giving the 49ers plenty of opportunities which they were unable to capitalize in the first half.

“We had chances, and we should have been able to put the game away in the first half,” Link said, “but things happen, and we weren’t able to finish our chances.”

Michigan’s Shelby Chambers-Garc scored an unassisted goal at the 35^th minute to give the Wolverines the lead going into halftime.

“I told the girls at the tent not to let a mistake, a bad play dictate the game,” Ingrassia said.

“In order to go forward you need to see what was behind you.  (Even though she let a goal through) we have enough trust in Marrina (Meyers) that when the shot is taken she will save us,” Link added.

The Beach hits the road for two games next weekend as they visit the Texas A & M Aggies on Friday, and then North Texas on Sunday.

“I cant belive that we were able to pull it out,” Link said. “We have goose bumps even now thinking about how we were able to pull the game out.”

BOX SCORE                                          1              2              F

MICHIGAN                                              1              0              1

LONG BEACH STATE                           0              2              2

SCORING

1)      34:42 MICH Shelby Chambers-Garc

2)      87:26 LBSU Nadia Link (1)

3)      89:07  LBSU Kelsey Wilson (1)