The Cal women’s soccer team muscled out a tough 2-0 away win against Long Beach State. Forwards Lauren Battung and Katie Benz scored in the 3rd and 52nd minutes, respectively.
Player of the Weekend: Lauren Battung
In soccer, the first 10 minutes of both halves are the most vulnerable for the teams as the players usually need time to adjust and to get in rhythm.
For most of the season, Bears struggled to get an early start to stamp their tempo and style into the match. And against the 49ers, Battung provided exactly what Cal was hoping for.
Battung’s aggressive run through the penalty box in the third minute earned the Bears a penalty. Battung’s successful penalty not only gave the Bears a 1-0 lead, but it helped the team settle into their style of play to win the match.
Turning point: Second goal of the match
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that 2-0 lead is two times larger than a 1-0 lead. But in soccer, that second goal probably feels about four or five times larger because of the psychological deflation it places on the losing team.
So when Benz scored the second goal early in the second half, Long Beach State’s hopes of a tying goal were dashed away.
Tactically, the second goal meant a switch for the 49ers. Down by two, Long Beach State had no choice but to push up the field to score goals. This impromptu adjustment left holes in the field that the Bears could have exploited to widen the margin even more.
Looking ahead
Unlike the hundreds of miles it traveled to reach Southern California, Cal is traveling across the bay to play in San Francisco against USF. The Dons are probably the easiest opponent for the Bears this season, as they have struggled this season and have 1-5 record. Barring an incredible upset, Cal should be able to wrap it up with little problems.
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