SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. --- UC Irvine women's soccer defends their Big West Championship with a 3-0 win over Long Beach State Sunday afternoon at Cal Poly's Mustang Memorial Field.
UC Irvine improved to 10-5-6 on the season after entering the tournament as the 6-seed, the first 6-seed in the history of the Big West Championship and claims the moniker of the lowest seed to win the Big West Women's Soccer crown.
The scoring started early as UCI set up for a corner kick in the eighth minute. The initial delivery missed its mark, but the offense regrouped as
Alex Jaquez threaded a beautiful ball through the defense to
Erin Covey right at the goalmouth to redirect the pass in for the 1-0 lead.
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Long Beach State (8-7-6, 5-3-2) was on the move to equalize. Cherrie Cox put a shot on target needing
Glo Hinojosa's denial. Sara Ybarra launched a long-range shot just floating over the bar in the 32nd minute.
UCI turned around and added to their lead in the 35th minute with another corner kick.
Amber Huff, like she's done all tournament, swung a cross right into the middle of the box, and
Suus de Bakker jumped in to head home a second goal.
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Minutes later, the attack raged on as Huff was on throw-in duty this time in the 42nd minute. Near the touchline, Huff sailed a throw-in toward the near post finding
Autumn Thompkins who stuck a leg and out and carved a perfect path through a sea of defenders and in for a 3-0 lead as the match entered the half.
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FINAL SCORE: UC IRVINE 3, LONG BEACH STATE 0
The Anteaters weathered the second-half storm turning away two shots on target from LBSU and out-shooting them, 8-7, as they continued to control possession and ride out another shutout.
Glo Hinojosa and her defense nailed down a third straight shutout to claim the tournament crown. Hinojosa was awarded the Big West Tournament MVP behind her three saves on Sunday, and she finishes her Big West career with five shutouts in five Big West Championship matches.
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Goals came from the trio of Covey, de Bakker, and Thompkins with Covey leading the charge with her third career goal, all coming in the last month, second against LBSU, and first career game-winning goal. de Bakker's goal is her second of the tournament along with her game-winner at Cal State Fullerton, and she entered the weekend with one goal in her Anteater career. Thompkins steps up with the timely first point of the season and second goal of her career.
Amber Huff continued her amazing run with two more assists on Sunday giving her eight assists in her last four matches and contributing on five of UC Irvine's six goals in the Big West Championship.
Alex Jaquez provided the assist on the game-winner for her fifth of the season to rank second on the team.
The Big West title is UC Irvine's third joining last year's title and the 1997 squad. The win automatically qualifies the 'Eaters for the NCAA Tournament for the program's fourth trip all-time. The team will find out the opponent, date, time, and location of the First Round matchup from Monday's Selection Show on ncaa.com.
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