Long Beach State women’s soccer won it’s first ever NCAA Tournament game at Pepperdine in 2011, and on Thursday the Beach returned to Malibu for the first time since that historic victory on Thursday.
Not only did LBSU improve to 2-0-0 this season with a 2-1 upset win over No. 8 Pepperdine, it’s also their first win over a ranked opponent since Aug. 24, 2017 and the first top ten win since defeating No. 4 UCLA to open the 2015 season.
“I’m incredibly proud of our women,” LBSU coach Mauricio Ingrassia said. “They have found countless ways to respond to adversity with a missed season, kept things together via Zoom, dealt with untimely injuries… so this result is a testament to some incredible women. I tip my hat to them.”
LBSU took a lead in the seventh minute thanks to a Kayla Cannon cross finished by freshman Summer Laskey. In the ninth minute, LBSU forward Lena Silano took advantage of a bad Pepperdine miscue and put the Beach up 2-0. Those are the first collegiate goals for both Laskey and Silano.
Pepperdine cut the lead in half in the 11th minute, but goalkeeper Morgan Houston-Shepherd and the LBSU defense locked down the last 78 minutes. She finished with recorded seven saves.
The Beach is off to its best start since 2012 when they won their first three games.
LBSU continues its six-match road stretch on Sunday at No.4 UCLA.
