IRVINE, Calif. --- The Anteaters squared off with Long Beach State in an exhibition match Saturday night in Championship Soccer Stadium at the OC Great Park taking home the 1-0 victory.

The Black and Blue rivals played three 30-minute periods of physical soccer getting the game's lone goal in the second 30-minute period from Claire Grouwinkel.

The 'Eaters played 32 different players including 12 of the 13 freshmen, and three different goalkeepers helped preserve the shutout.

"I was really pleased with how the game went," noted head coach Scott Juniper after a positive result to start the campaign. "We used a lot of players in a few different formations to test ourselves. We needed a tough game like this one to get ready for the home opener against USC next Thursday."

UCI runs head-first into the 2018 season Thursday night, Aug. 16, with a 7:00 p.m. match at Anteater Stadium against No. 12 USC. The game will follow an exhibition match from the men's soccer squad starting at 3:00 p.m.