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Long Beach State University

Wednesday, August 10
Riverside, Calif.
7 P.M. PT

Long Beach State University

at

California Baptist

Women's Soccer, Team
Photo by: John Fajardo

Women’s Soccer Kicks Off Fall with Exhibitions at CBU and ASU

8/9/2022 1:45:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Long Beach State will play at California Baptist on Wednesday night and at Arizona State on Saturday night to begin the fall schedule.

LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Long Beach State women's soccer team begins their fall season with a pair of road exhibition games this week. They will play at California Baptist on Wednesday night and at Arizona State on Saturday night.
 
Wednesday, August 10
Long Beach State at California Baptist
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: CBU Soccer Field (Riverside, Calif.)
 
Saturday, August 13
Long Beach State at Arizona State
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Sun Devil Soccer Stadium (Phoenix, Ariz.)
 
ABOUT LAST YEAR
• Long Beach State posted a 9-7-2 overall record and a 6-3-1 mark in Big West play during the 2021 season. They finished fifth in the conference standings with 19 total points.
• As a team, they ranked sixth in goals per game at 1.056 with 19 goals in 18 games. They led the league in goals against, surrendering just 0.89 goals per game. They also were tops in the Big West in save percentage at .828.
 
BEST DEFENSE IN THE BIG WEST
• The Beach defense never surrendered more than two goals in a single-game last year and only had three matches allowing two goals on their way to a league-leading 0.854 goals against average. That mark also ranked 50th in the nation.
• Further, the combo of Morgan Houston-Shepherd and Zora Standifer combined for an .832 save percentage which led the conference and ranked 37th in the NCAA.
 
ROAD WARRIORS
• Last year's squad saw themselves traveling a lot, playing 11 total matches on the road where they were dominant, posting a 7-2-2 mark away from George Allen Field.
• The seven road wins tied the most in a single-season in program history, matching the 7-2 away record set back in 2008.
 
HOME SWEET HOME
• The Beach is set for 12 home matches at George Allen Field, the most in a single-season for the program since the 2016 season. The season begins with six consecutive home matches with the season opener on August 18 and the first road contest not until September 8.
 
SILANO'S HISTORIC SEASON
• Senior Lena Silano was otherworldly last season scoring 11 of the team's 19 goals, including 6 game-winners. In single-season history, she tied for second most game-winning goals and multi-goal games, tied for fifth most in goals scored, and ranked tied for seventh in total points. She also recorded the third most shots in a season with 74.
• The Aguora Hills native became the second fastest in program history (in terms of fewest games) to 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 goals as well as 20 points in a season.
 
THE RETURN OF ACE
• Not a new recruit, but a huge part of the backline that returns in 2022 is Elysia Laramie. A 2018 All-Big West Freshman Team selection and 2019 All-Big West First Team selection, she is expected to return as the leader of the Beach defense.
• After missing 2020 due to COVID and 2021 due to a torn ACL, she will see her first minutes in nearly three years.
 
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR ENCORE
• Midfielder Maddy Perez is back for her second year at the Beach after becoming the first Big West Freshman of the Year since 2016. She was also an All-Big West First Team and All-Freshman Team selection.
 
KEY RETURNERS
• In total the Beach will have 14 returners along with 3 redshirts on their roster this season. Of those 14, six made at least 10 starts last year.
Aimee Medwin is back after starting 16 of the 18 matches last season. The Australia native is expected to occupy a spot on the back line once again this year.
Summer Laskey and Aleea Caceres each had 10 starts in 2021 are back again while Sophie Jones made 8 starts, but after a big spring is expected to be a key piece up front.
 
THE NEW RECRUITS
• This year's recruiting class is one catching national attention, ranking #30 in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer. The group includes one forward, four midfielders, and three defenders.
Cherrie Cox is the headliner of the eight, coming from West Torrance HS. The midfielder is considered a five-star recruit and is coming off back-to-back seasons where she set the record for most goals at her high school.
• Along with Cox in the midfield are Julia Moore, Nani Kia'aina, and a transfer from the University of Arizona, Tianna Sidtikun. Moore garnered some hardware in high school, winning the 2022-23 Player of the Year as well as the SCCAL Midfielder of the Year.
• The defenders in the class are Japan product Kana Uchida, Litzy Morales, and Taylor Freitas. Uchida (Japan) and Morales (Mexico) bring high-level experience to the Beach with both spending multiple years with their respective national teams.
• The lone forward is another international recruit, Felicia Jastre Hogberg from Sweden. In two years with division two IFK Fjaras, she scored 36 goals in 22 games, including a career-day with six goals in one game.
 
MAURICIO'S DYNASTY
• Prior to Coach Ingrassia taking the helm of Long Beach State, the team had not had a winning record in the Big West Conference. Since he took over in 2004, the Beach has been over .500 in all but three seasons (15-of-18).
• In that span, the Beach has been a dominant force in the Big West Conference claiming four Big West Tournament titles and five regular season titles. They have been to the conference tournament finals seven different times since 2008.
• Beyond the Big West Conference, Long Beach State has made their presence known nationally as well. Since 2008, the team has made seven NCAA Tournament appearances including an Elite 8 appearance in 2011. That is the furthest run by any team in Big West history.
 
SCOUTING THE LANCERS
• California Baptist was 6-8-3 overall in the 2021 season with a 4-4-2 record in the Western Athletic Conference. The Lancers were very good at home, going 4-1-1 at the CBU Soccer Stadium.
• Offensively, they scored 13 goals in their 17 games which is 0.76 goals per game. Comparatively, they surrendered 23 goals last season for a 1.35 goals against average.
• On the defensive side, their keepers owned a 0.713 save percentage with seven shutouts.
 
SCOUTING THE SUN DEVILS
• Arizona State posted a 10-8-2 overall record last season, going 2-7-2 in PAC-12 play finishing tenth in the standings. They were good at defending their home field though, going 5-3-1 at the Sun Devil Soccer Stadium.
• As a team, they scored 42 goals in their 20 games for an average of 2.10 per game to go along with a shot on goal percentage of 0.487.
• On defense they allowed 1.65 goals per game with the keepers owning a 0.718 save percentage.