Junior goalkeeper Ashton McKeown is one shutout away from tying Kaitlyn Gustaves for the second most career shutouts in LBSU history.
However, if McKeown wants to achieve this milestone she will need to be on the lookout for San Diego juniors Victoria Walker and Jacqueline Altschuld.
The LBSU women’s soccer team will be on the road for the first time this season to take on San Diego on Friday, before coming home to take on Portland State on Sunday.
The 49ers have opened this season with a 3-1 record, including a 1-0 upset against then No. 4 UCLA. LBSU will look to continue its good run against the Toreros and Vikings.
Three games into the season, Walker has already scored two goals while Altschuld has netted once and recorded an assist. Whether McKeown gets the shutout or not, junior midfielder Mimi Rangel is convinced Friday night’s game will be a good one.
“It’s always a big game when we play [San Diego],” Rangel said. “It’s tough against them every time because they know us very well and they do a good job of defending against us.”
LBSU and SDU are quite familiar with each other considering the programs began facing off regularly in 2008. They have met almost every year during the fall season since then and have faced off multiple times in exhibitions during the spring.
“Our coach [Mauricio Ingrassia] and their coach [Ada Greenwood] are really good friends,” McKeown said.
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The last three regular season games have all been close, however the 49ers have not beaten San Diego in three years. The last time they did was in 2012, when they defeated the Toreros 1-0 at George Allen Field. The last two games resulted in a 1-0 loss for the 49ers in San Diego in 2013 and a 0-0 double overtime tie at George Allen Field last year.
The 49ers will then return to Long Beach to host the Portland State Vikings (0-3-0) on Sunday. It will be the second meeting between the two; LBSU won the first matchup 1-0 on Aug. 27, 2006.
LBSU will need to watch for two-time All-Big Sky First-Team selection Cori Bianchini. The senior midfielder has netted 10 times in her career and has provided 10 assists.
Portland State, however, has yet to score a single goal this season, and has started the year on a three-game losing streak.
The 49ers head down to San Diego for a game against the Toreros on Friday beginning at 7:30 p.m. LBSU returns to George Allen Field for a matchup against Portland State on Sunday at noon.