LONG BEACH, Calif. --- UC Irvine women's soccer dropped its first Big West match at the hands of its rival, Long Beach State, Sunday night at George Allen Field by a score of 2-1.

Long Beach State (9-5-3, 4-1-1) got the scoring going in the 36th minute. A giveaway on defense by the 'Eaters set up Kaylee Ramirez to charge down the touchline and feed Sierra Castles whose redirection beat Anteater keeper Maddie Newsom for the opening goal and LBSU lead, 1-0.

The 49ers continued to hold possession until pouncing on another Anteater (8-6-3, 4-1-2) error in the 68th minute. After a pass back to Newsom, the keeper's clearance hit off Ashley Gonzales and back to her. Her second attempt wasn't successful either, and Gonzales would take it and score into an open net building LBSU's lead to 2-0.

The keeper would get a bit of revenge of her own in the final minute of the match heading toward the LBSU goal to try help on offense on a free kick. The ball popped out of the mixer to Newsom on the left side of the box, and her shot found the back of the net pulling the 'Eaters back to down 2-1 with 16 seconds left to play.
 

#BlackandBlue FINAL: GK Maddie Newsom the lone #UCIrvine goal (90' via Kelsey Pottorff), but the 'Eaters fall 2-1 at #LBSU.

Regular-season finale at #CSF Thursday, 7pm PT. 'Eaters need a point to secure their #BWCTourney berth. pic.twitter.com/zUCfy7nfgr

— Big West W-Soccer (@BigWestWSOC) October 22, 2018

Long Beach State would see out the match and hold onto the 2-1 victory.

Newsom and the 'Eaters dropped its first Big West match, now at 4-1-2, remaining in first place with 14 points, but still not locked into a conference title or Big West Tournament spot.

Newsom in net stopped six shots, and her goal is the first for an Anteater keeper in program history, and adds to her three assists she's accumulated. Kelsee Pottorff earned the assist for a second straight match, and the fifth of her career.

UC Irvine has a final match on Thursday, October 25, at Cal State Fullerton starting at 7:00 p.m. with another chance to gain access to the Big West Tournament.

NOTES: UC Irvine remains winless in its last four matches against Long Beach State (0-2-2)...14 of UCI's 17 matches have been decided by one goal or less with a record of 7-4 in matches that weren't draws...the loss snaps UC Irvine's unbeaten streak at eight matches (6-0-2)