49ers Battle with USC on Saturday
Key MPSF Match This Saturday with Top-Ranked Trojans
March 25, 2004 TOUGH TEST WITH THE TROJANS
The No. 5-ranked 49ers (12-4, 3-2 MPSF) will host top-ranked USC (14-0, 5-0 MPSF) on Saturday at noon at the campus pool. LBSU has faced the Trojans once this season, falling by a 9-6 final at the UC Santa Barbara Tournament in late February. In that match, first team All-American Roberta Stewart was not 100%, appearing in her first game after a week of battling the flu. Stewart would miss another week of the season before participating in her first full week of practice two weeks ago. The Trojans lead the all-time series 20-0, but The Beach have come within three goals or less, in four of the last seven meetings.
AZEVEDO AT THE HELM
Ricardo Azevedo is in his fifth year as head coach of both the men's and women's programs, compiling a 73-66 record in five years with the men and a 89-61 record in four-plus years with the women. On the women's side, LBSU has set school-records for wins in three of his four seasons, including last year's remarkable 24-8 record. He was named the co-MPSF Coach of the Year in 2002. He is also an assistant with the Men's National Team, which features his son, Tony, one of the world's top players. LAST WEEK
The 49ers rebounded after a tough weekend in San Diego by winning a key MPSF matchup last Sunday with Arizona State, 11-3. Cassie Azevedo scored three goals, as The Beach took a 5-1 lead after the first 14 minutes and never looked back. LBSU had split its previous two games in San Diego, wining by just one at UC San Diego, 6-5, and losing by one to San Diego State 10-9. 49ERS DROP IN THE RANKINGS
After 23 weeks at No. 4 in the nation, The Beach dropped to No. 5 after losing a one-goal decision at San Diego State in mid-March. LBSU is in its second week at No. 5 in the polls. The streak at No. 4 spanned three seasons, dating back to the last two weeks of 2002. GARCIA SPLASHING AWAY
Senior All-American Angelica Garcia (Catano, PR) is on the verge of becoming the 49ers all-time leading scorer as her 32 goals this season has given her 181 in her four-year career. Ashley Richardson holds the all-time record with 184 goals, set last year. Garica has scored in each of the last six games. WAWRZYNSKI HEATING UP, AGAIN
Junior Drue Wawrzynski (Garden Grove) has tallied goals in each of her last four contests, after finding the back of the net in each of her first 10 games. Wawrzynski is second on the club with 25 goals this season and 96 in her career. HOT STREAK FOR AZEVEDO
Sophomore Cassie Azevedo (Long Beach) with a team-best three goals in the team's 11-3 triumph over Arizona State has 24 goals on the season. Azevedo has led the team in scoring four times this season, including four goals against USC and UC Irvine. Azevedo has scored in each of the past seven games. HAWKINS SHUTS THEM DOWN
Junior goalie Bri Hawkins (San Diego) has produced a 50-19 career record over her three-year career, talling 526 career saves. Hawkins with 111 saves this year continues to close in on all-time leader, Amanda Wightman's 552 saves. Hawkins has allowed just a shade under five goals a game this season. STEWART RETURNS
Two-time first team All-American Roberta Stewart (Auckland, NZ) has scored four goals over three games in her first weeks back after missing two weeks with pneumonia. Stewart, last year's leading scoring, has 126 in her three-year career. 49ERS TO HOST MPSF CHAMPIONSHIPS
Long Beach State and the Los Alamitos Naval Base will serve as this year's host of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships from April 30 to May 2. Ticket information can by obtained by calling (562) 985-4949 or on the website at www.longbeachstate.com
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