Farquhar Comes Up Big
by Matt Zimmerman, Long Beach Press-Telegram
October 30, 2005 And yes, she understands her last name is similar to that of the villain of the piece, and yes, she reluctantly says teammates have picked up on it and uttered the name ``Lord Farquaad.''
But as a freshman on the Long Beach State women's soccer team, Farquhar earned her own royal accolades when she came up big in what was the most important weekend of the 49ers' season so far.
This weekend, beginning today at 3 p.m. at first-place UC Riverside, the 49ers (12-4-1, 3-2) have an opportunity to seize the Big West title and secure the program's first postseason berth. And they are in this position thanks largely to the efforts of ``Lady''
Farquhar, who was conference player of the week and a member of Soccer America magazine's National Team of the Week for her play in those back-to-back home
wins against Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara three weeks ago.
``I'm always telling people, `Hey, come to the soccer game!' Everybody I sit next to in class, they're like, `shut up,'?'' laughed Farquhar, who had a goal against
Cal Poly and the game-winning assists against UCSB. ``I'm so excited about it, it's so cool. College-level soccer, we're doing amazing things. It's unbelievable, really.''
As a member of the 49ers' touted recruiting class, Farquhar anticipated the modest playing time that usually comes with being part of a group that includes four top-100 recruits, and not being one of those four. Farquhar did not come in unknown, having been named
CIF Southern Section Division VI Offensive Player of the Year after leading Arrowhead Christian Academy to the CIF-SS Division title as a senior, which put her in
good company among the other freshmen.
But the Redlands native has started 16 of 17 games this season, including the last 16 in succession, and two goals and four assists to stand fifth among LBSU scoring leaders. And, it seems each of her points have been key for the 49ers.
``She has performed higher than expectations,'' 49er coach Mauricio Ingrassia said of Farquhar, who also had the overtime game-winning assist against Fresno State. ``You can't teach speed, and she's shown some good skill with the ball, And she's a big
game-type player, she steps up in the big games.''
LBSU and Farquhar first connected when coaches attended club games to see current LBSU freshmen Sara Baca and Kim Silos play. They took notice of Farquhar, who was a teammate of Baca and Silos, and soon Farquhar was taking her visits and choosing
LBSU over Boise State.
``Coming in, she wasn't one of the top 50, or one of the top 100, or an (Olympic Development Program) player, she was more of a role player,'' said Baca, who rooms with Farquhar. ``But I think she stepped it up, and everyone decided, Dana does have the potential to be just as good as any of us, she has proven that. I think over the next couple years, she's really going to help our team out.''
Regardless of the future, Farquhar says the team is focused on what is next, and that begins with today's game against the Highlanders, who can clinch the title with a win. But 49er wins today at UCR (10-3-3, 4-0-2) and against Cal State Fullerton Sunday would
mean the 49ers would not only finish in the top four of the Big West and gain a conference tournament berth, but that they, as champions, would host it.
``That's what we're shooting for,'' Farquhar said. ``Mauricio wants top four. But we're like, we've come all this way, why don't we just win it?'' |
