49ers Return Home Looking for a Win
The Beach Close Out the Season with Three at Home
October 20, 2004 PDF Version of the Release 49ERS PLAY FINAL THREE AT GEORGE ALLEN FIELD
Long Beach State (5-8-2, 0-5-1 Big West) will look for its first conference victory of the season when it closes out the season with three matches at home, beginning with UC Irvine (4-10-2, 1-5-0 Big West) on Friday at 3 p.m. The 49ers, who have dropped three straight, have scored just four goals in Big West play. Four of the team's losses (including three in Big West play) have been by a single goal. The 49er defense has tied a school-record with six shutouts this season. The Beach can still finish with back-to-back .500 records for the first time in Big West play, if they can win their final three matches of the year.
INGRASSIA AT THE HELM
Mauricio Ingrassia hit the ground running in late May after taking over for Peter Reynaud, who retired after 22 seasons as a head coach. Ingrassia built a very successful junior college program at Long Beach City College, where he won five of the last seven state titles and finished with an 184-24-8 record over nine years. Ingrassia's teams were undefeated over the past two seasons, pulling off a 55-match unbeaten streak. The Vikings achieved back-to-back No. 1 national rankings, while winning two of his final four state titles. LBCC had never reached the playoffs, or won more than seven matches in a season prior to his arrival.
LAST WEEK
The 49ers ended the season, 1-6-0 in true road matches and 3-7-0 overall away from George Allen after getting swept in the team's final trips to Utah State (2-1, OT) and Idaho (3-1). On Friday, the 49ers went from three minutes away from their first Big West victory, at Utah State, to a 2-1 overtime loss. USU tied the match in the 87th minute, before scoring the game-winner with one second left in the first overtime. On Sunday, LBSU quickly tied it up in the 17th minute, after the Vandals went ahead 1-0. But Idaho would score once more late in the second half and then again midway through the second half. The 49ers took 10 second half shots and a match-high 17 for the contest, but saw five of them saved by Idaho's keeper.
MODERN DAY TRIPLE CROWN
Senior utility player Allison Wiegand (Modesto) currently has the most goals (17), points (34) and assists (9-tied) since the program was re-started in 1998. Wiegand is currently the co-leader in goals (3) this year, and second in assists (3). Overall, she ranks third all-time in goals and points. Wiegand is the only player in school-history to be named first team All-Big West twice in her career and is the only three-time recipient of an all-conference honor (she was a second teamer in 2001).
TRAVIS AMONGST ALL-TIME GREATS
Senior forward Kristin Travis (Davis), one of three four-year starters on the club, will leave the school amongst the all-time great players in school-history. Travis is tied for seventh all-time in career goals (10) and career points (29) and is tied with fellow senior Allison Wiegand with nine career assists for fifth place all-time and the modern day record for successful passes.
WENDER SHUTS THEM DOWN
Senior Shanna Wender (Fresno) has been an impact player throughout her four-year career on the backline for the 49ers. Over her career, LBSU has posted 15 shutouts and allowed one or fewer goals 37 times over four seasons. This year the defense has allowed one or fewer goals in nine contests.
MESSINA RACKING UP AWARDS
Forty-Niner defender Natalie Messina (Santa Rosa) continues to make a name for herself around the country as one of the top defenders, earning MVP awards at the 49er and Bluejay Classics. She has also been named all-tournament in all three of the 49ers tournaments this season. Messina has usually flanked a team's top player, including two of the West's top players in WAC Player of the Year Natasha Kai and Big West Offensive Player of the Year Jennifer Borcich. Messina was named Big West Player of the Week on October 4.
O'DONNELL OUT FOR THE SEASON
Junior defender Shaina O'Donnell (Victorville) will miss the rest of the season after suffering a torn ACL to her right knee at Cal Poly. O'Donnell, a valuable addition to the lineup, appeared in 10 games this season.
NEW FACES SEE TIME
As Head Coach Mauricio Ingrassia continues to tweak with his lineup, three players saw action for the first time over the past month. Freshman forward Katelyn Quaresma (Manteca) was the first addition on September 17, followed by freshman defender Justine Pap Rocki (Woodbridge) and redshirt sophomore midfielder Laura Kucich (Diamond Bar). Kucich missed all of last year with a knee injury after appearing in 19 matches as a freshman.
GREAT START
The 49ers opened up the season 3-0-1, their best start in Big West play, and won two tournaments this season, the 49er Classic and the Bluejay Classic behind two-time tournament MVP Natalie Messina. LBSU began the year 5-3-1 before its lastest downturn.
ALMOST GOT IT
The 49ers after starting the season 3-1-1, have struggled to find a rhythm, at times playing their best soccer only to come up with a tie or one-goal defeat. Over the last 10 matches (2-7-1), and seven losses, four of those contests have been one-goal defeats and another has been a 0-0 tie.
FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT
A number of newcomers this season have improved the team's overall play, including transfers Elizabeth Romo and Jenny Smith; and freshmen Amanda Perry, Kelli Goes and Hilary Goldberg. NOTHING BUT ZEROES
The 49ers have posted six shutouts this season, tying the school-record. The team's three-straight shutouts also set a record.
GOLDEN GOAL A SUCCESS
The team's first annual golden goal fundraiser was a success on August 20 as the dinner and silent auction raised in the neighborhood of $10,000 for the program.
PRE-SEASON NOTES
BEACH RETURN INTACT FOR 2004
The Beach will return 17 lettermen with Division-I experience and nine starters from last year's team. At the first day of tryouts on August 11, upwards of 50 players tried out. That roster is now at just over 30 players. The Beach also returns four All-Big West performers this season, highlighted two-time first team All-Big West player in Allison Wiegand (Modesto). Two-time honorable mention pick Shanna Wender (Fresno) returns to the backline, as does sophomore honorable mention defender Natalie Messina (Santa Rosa). Sophomore Erin Empting (Fountain Valley) was honorable mention All-BWC at midfield in 2003.
49ERS PICKED TO FINISH SIXTH
Cal Poly, which won the title last year, garnered nine of the 10 first place votes and 99 total points and is picked by the league's coaches to win the Big West. UC Santa Barbara (84 points), CS Fullerton (78) and UC Irvine (61) round out the top four. UC Riverside follows with 59 points, while The Beach (50), Pacific (41), CS Northridge (40), Utah State (27) and Idaho (11) round out the field. Last year five teams came within two wins of first place. LBSU finished tied for fourth place. The top four teams reach the Big West Tournament.
WIEGAND TOP ALL AROUND PLAYER?
Allison Wiegand (Modesto) may be the conference's top all-around player, earning all-conference honors at three positions during her career. She began her career as a forward, earning second team honors, before leading the team's defense in 2002 and earning first team accolades. Last year at midfielder, she was also a first team selection. She has played all three positions this year. |
