49ers Headed to UCSD Tournament
Talented Group Includes Three Returning All-Americans Record: 0-0, 0-0 MPSF • Ranking: 4th
Beach Begin at UCSD: The 49ers (0-0) begin the 2003 campaign with high aspirations (read: National Championship) as they begin the year at UC San Diego's Tournament on Saturday and Sunday. The Beach return six of seven starters, three All-Americans and another all-conference honoree to a team that went 19-13 last year and finished fourth at the MPSF Championships.
Successful Campaign: The Beach (19-13, 6-5 MPSF) completed a season of firsts in their fifth overall season. LBSU broke a number of school records this year, including: overall wins (19), conference victories (6), winning percentage (.594), fewest losses (13) and national ranking (4th). The team also finished fourth at the MPSF Conference Tournament, their highest ever post-season finish, in the nation's toughest conference. Individually, it was the first time in school history that the 49ers achieved multiple all-conference and All-America honors. The team also garnered its first ever all-tournament selections and for the first time, achieved two MPSF Players of the Week.
Head Coach: Ricardo Azevedo is 53-49 in three seasons at the helm of the women's program. In 2002, Azevedo was named the MPSF's women's water polo co-Coach of the Year. Azevedo also coaches the 49er men's team. Azevedo is also an assistant with the Men's National Team.
Rank and File: The 49ers are ranked No. 4 in the pre-season coaches poll, not only their highest ranking ever, but also their highest pre-season ranking.
Talented Crop of Returnees: Three starters are All-Americans in sophomore first teamer Roberta Stewart (Auckland, New Zealand), third teamer Angelica Garcia (Catano, Puerto Rico) and honorable mention honoree senior Ashley Richardson (San Diego). The three combined for 163 of the team's 260 goals last year.
Record Watch: Senior Ashley Richardson (San Diego) with 142 career goals, is just three goals away from breaking Stacy Black's two-year old school-record. Sophomore Angelica Garcia (Catano, Puerto Rico) has 111 goals, seven away from taking over third place from Lisa Helm (1998-01).
Hawkins Back in Goal: Sophomore Bri Hawkins made a splash at the net in 2002, tallying 179 saves, third-best in a career, en route to second team All-MPSF Tournament honors. Hawkins broke into the starting lineup 11 games into the season and never gave it back.
Sophomore Sensations: Drue Wawrzynski (Garden Grove) and Robyn Gordin (Cerritos) are are also returning starters. Last year, four freshman ended up the starting unit at the end of the year in Gordin, Wawrzynski, Stewart and Hawkins.
Top Talent Comes to LBSU: Cassie Azevedo (Long Beach), Tara Campbell (Quebec, Canada) and Alison Braden (Alberta, Canada) make up an impressive freshman class. Azevedo, a member of the U.S. National program, was a four-time prep All-American at Wilson High, while Campbell is a member of both Canadian National teams, while Braden played on the Canadian Juniors National Team. |
