IRVINE, Calif. --- Women's soccer put on a show for ESPN3 taking a Black and Blue Rivalry Series win Sunday evening, 2-0, over Long Beach State in Anteater Stadium.
UC Irvine (6-8-1, 2-2-0) earned the early lead scoring just its third first-half goal of the season in the 34th minute. Alex Karlowitsch fed Andrea Mensen along the left wing, and her cross turned onto goal and off LBSU keeper Cynthia Diaz's hands, making her first start of the year, for the 1-0 lead.
Corey Tobin and the defense kept Long Beach State (8-5-3, 3-2-0) scoreless into the half. Minutes after the goal, the 49ers had a brilliant chance to tie as Mimi Rangel curled a set piece off the right wing onto goal, but an outstretched Tobin tipped it away, one of three above-average denials she made in the half.
The 'Eaters charged on in the second half creating chance after chance converting on one in the 63rd minute. Lili Andino tracked across the field and drove into the box feeding Kiana Palacios dead center, and she wound up and left-footed a bullet into the top right corner to extend the lead to 2-0.
Both sides continued to march on as UCI fired six more shots in the half turning five of their nine shots on the night on target. LBSU had a pair of goals negated from offside calls, and had a big shot to get back in the match late.
A foul near the top of the box put Ashley Gonzales on the ball, and she crushed her set piece attempt toward the wall, but Grayson Galbraith got a full face on it to turn the 49ers away and help get shutout No. 6 on the year.
"Really proud of the team," beamed Head Coach Scott Juniper. "We talked about how well we did Friday, but took 15 minutes off in the second half. The commitment tonight was we were going to do it for 90 minutes, and I think we saw a fully committed performance for 90 minutes. We brought the Anteater soccer energy for 90 minutes."
The 90 minutes brought the 'Eaters up into the Big West race with six points, lurking outside the top four spots.
Tobin's six shutout on the year came with five saves. One of her defensive backline served up her first career goal and the game-winner in Andrea Mensen.
"We're at a point where we've got so many players that can score, we just ask them to step up and want to be the player that takes the chance. Not always looking to distribute to somebody else, but be confident enough to take one yourselves. I think you saw with Kiana, she took her chance. She didn't hesitate, and that's got to be one of the goals of the season."
Palacios asserted herself atop the team with seven points following her second goal on the year. Andino knocked her first career assist while Karlowitsch's assist was her first on the season, sixth of her career, placing her second on the squad with five points.
49er keepers Cynthia Diaz and Imani McDonald came together playing one half each to stop three shots. Diaz was charged with the loss in her third match and first start of the year.
Next up for the Anteaters will be a central coast trip to Cal Poly (Fri. Oct. 23) and UC Santa Barbara (Sun. Oct. 25) as they continue to charge toward the Big West Tournament.
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