Long Beach State University Athletics
Perry, Quaresma Boost 49ers
10/14/2007 12:00:00 AM | General
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Perry, Quaresma Boost 49ers LONG BEACH - Seniors Amanda Perry and Katelyn Quaresma are the only members of the Long Beach State women's soccer team to be with the 49ers the past four seasons. Coach Mauricio Ingrassia calls them the "survivors." Right now, they might be more like saviors. Because of mounting injuries on the team, Perry and Quaresma have been given an opportunity to come off the bench and contribute more prominently, and so far they have not disappointed. "I don't know if we have two harder workers on the team," Ingrassia said. "They kill themselves at practice." With the backline decimated by injuries, with Julie Megorden (knee) out for the rest of the season and Tiffany Vaught (knee) and Grace Shevlin (ankle) out indefinitely, Perry has filled in admirably. And up front, with Kim Silos nursing a sore ankle and Kristen Kiefer listed as day to day with an injured ankle of her own, Quaresma, too, has been a blessing. The duo helped get the 49ers (9-4-0, 2-0-0) off to a good start in their Big West Conference season last weekend with wins at Pacific, where Quaresma scored the game-winner on an assist by Perry, and UC Davis. Quaresma's goal came in front of 20-plus family members and friends in Stockton, not far from her hometown of Manteca. "That Friday night is one I will always remember," she said. "It's one of the most memorable moments of my soccer career." "The soccer gods paid her back (for all of her hard work)," Ingrassia said. "Hopefully, she has a few more of those in her this season." Perry and Quaresma are expected to again step up, with the likes of Cat Gray and Jenn Brooks, as the 49ers travel to Cal State Northridge (2-8-1, 0-2-0) this afternoon, looking to keep their perfect BWC record intact. "We have the starting lineup and then the rest of us," said Perry, who joined the team as a walk-on four years, the only one to make it out of a tryout of about 50 players. "We stay in shape, keep fit in case we are called on. Collectively, we as a team have to have that mindset, whether we get minutes or not." "You know if you work hard, give it 100 percent that someday you'll get a chance to fill in," said Quaresma, the only player left from the Peter Reynaud era. So much has been made of Ingrassia's nationally ranked recruiting classes of three years ago - juniors like Hayley Bolt, Sahar Haghdan, Sara Baca, Dana Farquhar and Silos - and this year's freshman class - Lindsay Bullock, Grace and Caroline Shevlin and Kiefer - that players like Perry and Quaresma have kind of fallen out of favor. It's just the nature of sports. Perry and Quaresma have had similar careers, with plenty of ups and downs. In seasons past, their minutes on the field were great. Perry played in 52 of 58 games coming into this season, and Quaresma saw action in 40. This year, Quaresma has seen time in nine of 13 games; Perry in eight. But with the influx of talent, their minutes and chances have evaporated. And their roles are ever-changing. "This year has been a roller-coaster in itself," said Perry, who was left off the traveling roster when the 49ers went back east for games against Wake Forest and Clemson earlier this year. It was the first time she had been left home. "It's difficult, but you always have to keep yourself prepared." One thing that makes it easy to deal with is the support of their teammates, whether they are No. 1 or last on the depth chart. "When you get your chance, you are backed by 27 girls," Quaresma said. "It makes you feel part of the team. It's an amazing feeling." And no two players are more supportive of each other than Perry and Quaresma, who have been through it all - the good times and not-so-good times - together, being that rock or soft shoulder when needed. "We all are really close," Perry said, "but you really bond with the girls you came in with." |
