UConn Women’s Soccer Falls to Long Beach State in Overtime, 3-2

For the third straight game, the UConn women’s soccer team went to overtime. But for the first time this season the Huskies were defeated after the extra session, 3-2, by the Long Beach State 49ers.

The game-winner came in the second overtime period off a corner kick. The ball dropped into the middle of the 6-yard box and found the head of Kaitlin Fregulia, who put it past Mollie Kerrigan and the Husky defense to pull off the victory.

Long Beach State never trailed and dictated the course of play for most of the match.

“In the first half we let them keep the ball,” said head coach Len Tsantiris. “We didn’t zero in quickly.”

The opening goal of the game came off a cross that somehow managed its way through the Huskies’ defense. Kayla Cannon received it at the back post and sent it into the net to give the 49ers a 1-0 lead.

The goal seemed to wake UConn up, as the Huskies increased the pressure quickly thereafter. The opposing defense soon cracked as Kess Elmore found Yamilee Eveillard across the box. Eveillard calmly settled it and sent the ball into the side-netting for her first-career goal.

However, a lapse by the Huskies’ defense would once again come back to bite them. In the 40th minute, a Long Beach State cross dropped into the box. UConn failed to clear the ball and the 49ers were able to poke it in to take a 2-1 lead.

Coming out of the break, Long Beach State came out firing, getting three shots on net quickly. That momentum wouldn’t last long, though.

Vivien Beil forced a turnover in the Huskies’ offensive third but had two defenders in front of her without much help. As it turned out, she didn’t need it.

The German product dribbled past the defense without much contention and sent it past the keeper near-post to make it 2-2.

The rest of the second half was mostly dominated by Long Beach State. They nearly took the lead with less than two minutes to go, but the goal was called offsides, wiping it off the scoreboard.

The Huskies had one chance in overtime as Elmore got free over the top, but she couldn’t beat the keeper to the ball.

With the loss, UConn falls to 2-4-2 on the season. They have a quick turnaround to play Colorado College on Sunday. Kickoff is set for noon.