IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine put up a valiant fight, but fell, 1-0, to the Long Beach State 49ers Sunday afternoon at a wet Anteater Stadium to determine the Big West Tournament champions.
Each side was locked in a Big West Championship-like tussle. Jazz Strozier was in the right place at the right time in the 13th minute for LBSU (15-5-1, 6-2-0). A long free kick by Kelsey Wilson found Alex Balcer on the left side of the goal. She put a head on it and sent it across the box where Shawna Gordon headed it on goal. Strozier came flying in to tip it inside the far post and give the 49ers the 1-0 lead.
The action was contained in the middle of the field for the majority of the first half. Each squad produced just two shots with Strozier's as the only on goal.
The match was physical throughout to add to the struggle of playing on a rain-soaked pitch.
LBSU's best chance to stretch the lead came early in the second half. Nadia Link belted a shot from outside the box that Jennifer Randazzo (San Jose / Presentation HS) tipped up and off the crossbar to keep it out.
UCI held the ball throughout the half outshooting the 49ers, 10-3, with four on goal. Sarah Devine (San Diego / Poway HS) had a great chance off a corner kick. Her header went towards the goal as Lexi Kopf (Sonora / Sonora HS) and 49er keeper, Kaitlyn Gustaves, converged on it. Gustaves was able to punch it back out to Devine who would return another header that sailed just high.
The 'Eaters' golden opportunity came from CoCo Goodson (Ramona / University of Texas) as she laced a free kick from 20 yards out directly on net. Gustaves knocked it out and right to Kopf, but she couldn't tame the rebound and flicked it off the side of the net.
UCI (14-4-2, 6-1-1) continued to press, but were unable to break through as the final minutes ticked down.
Randazzo finished with one save as her and UCI's win streaks ended at seven matches.
The next step for the 'Eaters will be the NCAA Selection Show on Mon. Nov. 7th. The show takes place on NCAA.com at 1:30 p.m. and will determined whether the 'Eaters make the postseason tournament along with the time, location, and opponent of their opening-round match if they are selected.
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