The good news: the 49er defense held their opponent scoreless for the second straight time, and the fourth time this season. The bad news: they also didn’t score, for the second game in a row, and the sixth time in 13 games this year. This time, the opponent in the doughnut fest was Cal State Bakersfield, who knock the ‘Niners to a 5-6-2 record with the 0-0 double overtime draw Sunday afternoon at George Allen Field.
The Beach dominated possession for most of the match, outshooting the Roadrunners 18-10. LBSU also held the advantage in shots on goal (9-to-6) and corner kicks (5-to-3). Sophomore Shawna Gordon led the attack with five shots, while five others had two attempts.
Sophomore Emily Kingsborough turned away five shots en route to her second consecutive shutout.
The 49ers had several opportunities to come away with the win. At the 22:46 mark, sophomore Nicole Sweetman got her foot on a cross from classmate Nicole Hubbard, but her sliding, one-time shot went right into the hands of CSUB goalkeeper Kym Gause.
LBSU continued to put the pressure on in the second half, taking seven shots to the Roadrunners’ three. Just 39 seconds into the period, freshman Jenny Soza looked like she was going to get The Beach on the board with a breakaway, but Gause got a good angle on the ball and was able to cut it off.
Soza also had an open look with under a minute to play in the second overtime, but her shot from about 15 yards out sailed just high.
Cal State Bakersfield’s (4-8-2) best chance to score came in the 16th minute, when Sam Pena chipped a shot over an oncoming Kingsborough, but junior Chantel Hubbard was able to head the ball out just before it was going to cross the goal line. Pena led the Roadrunners with six shots, while Gause compiled nine saves.
It was the second consecutive double overtime game for LBSU, which played No. 25 San Diego to a scoreless tie last Wednesday (Oct. 7).
Long Beach State returns to Big West Conference action later this week when it heads to UC Santa Barbara for a 5 p.m. showdown on Thursday, Oct. 15. The 49ers then make their way to San Luis Obispo where they will take on Cal Poly at 1 p.m. on Sunday (Oct. 18).
From LBSU reports