49ers Set to Open Up Following Record Breaking Campaign
Beach Coming Off 14-5-1 and Big West Championship Season
August 28, 2007 PDF VERSION OF THE RELEASE HERE NEW SEASON ON TAP
Long Beach State women's soccer (0-0-0), coming off its best season in school history at 14-5-1, will embark on their most ambitious schedule to date, facing six NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago, including Utah in its home opener on Sunday, September 2 with a breakfast edition, 9 a.m. start at George Allen Field. The 49ers open up the 2007 campaign at CS Bakersfield, the first of four road matches in five tries to start the season for The Beach. The game with the Roadrunners will be on Friday at 7 p.m. The 49ers return nine starters and two Big West post-season honorees, Big West Midfielder of the Year, Hayley Bolt (Lakewood) and Big West Offensive Player of the Year, Kim Silos (Ontario).
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS
CS Bakersfield (0-0-0) enters its first year of Division-I play this weekend when they host The Beach on Friday and UC Irvine on Sunday. The Roadrunners finished their final season of Division-II soccer at 7-9-4. CSUB lost all but five lettermen (four starters) from last year's club for Head Coach Nicole van Dyke. They lost 1-0 to Pepperdine in an exhibition on August 25, falling in the 56th minute. Utah (0-0-0), which finished ahead of No. 23-ranked BYU last year in the Mountain West race, are rated No. 15 in the West Region. The Utes will have to replace seven starters this season and three former MWC Players of the Year. One of the returners is talented All-American forward Adele Letro, the first Ute to be named an All-American. Letro along with MWC Freshman of the Year Kelly Isleib run the offense for Head Coach Rich Manning. The Utes overall went 16-5-1 and a perfect 7-0-0 in the MWC.
AT THE HELM
The 49ers quick emergence as a regional and national threat has become at the hands and feet of Head Coach Mauricio Ingrassia. Ingrassia, who has gone 32-19-7 over three seasons, has brought in three top-40 recruiting classes, including the 15th-best class in the nation in 2005. That class, now juniors, is the core of this year's team. Ingrassia previously won five state titles at nearby Long Beach City College, the most of any California coach. He finished his LBCC career winning the last 55 in a row.
IN THE TOP-25
Prior to Mauricio Ingrassia's arrival, the 49ers were never in the regional polls, let alone the national polls. This year's team for the second straight year is ranked in the top-30 to start the year, ranking a pre-season high of No. 25 in Soccer Buzz' annual poll. The 49ers were as high as No. 21 last season. The team's No. 8 regional ranking is one spot away from the program's best mark, set last year.
RECORD BREAKING COUPLE OF YEARS
The 49ers have had the two best seasons in school history, going 12-5-3 in 2005 and 14-5-1 in 2006. Both times they broke the school record for victories and shutouts, as the team has produced 24 scoreless contests over two seasons. They just missed the NCAA Tournament in 2006 after winning the Big West's regular season title.
A SNEAK PEAK
The 49ers hosted their only scrimmage of the season a week before the season opener against Azusa Pacific, the NAIA's No. 1 team last season. The 27th ranked recruiting class did not disappoint, defeating the Cougars 5-0, as the freshmen accounted for 10 of the 14 points. Kristen Kiefer (Mission Viejo) had two goals, while Lindsay Bullock (Manhattan Beach) had a goal and two assists. Redshirt freshman Nikki Myers (Chula Visa) added two assists.The previous two years, in which the 49ers produced school records for victories, The Beach tied APU 1-1 and lost 1-0.
A TOUGH SCHEDULE
Besides the six tournament teams from a year ago, the team's highest ranked opponent will be No. 14-ranked USC. BYU is also ranked, checking in at No. 23, while Wake Forest also received votes in Soccer Buzz' poll. The Beach are one of three Big West teams ranked in the region.
PICKED TO WIN IT AGAIN
The defending Big West regular season champions are picked to repeat and win the conference championship, according to the conference coaches. The 49ers, who were 5-1-1 in conference play, received five of the nine first place votes and 77 points overall. Cal Poly, which upset the 49ers in the first round of the Big West Tournament in Long Beach, and UC Santa Barbara, also a Big West Tournament team, were picked to finish second with 63 points (two first place votes).
RETURNING TALENT
The 49ers return four all-conference players and a number of players with significant experience in 2007. Along with Silos and Bolt, Sahar Haghdan (Palmdale) joined the duo on the first team, while Dana Farquhar (Redlands) was named to the second team. Seven players have 40 or more caps to their credit, including defensive midfielder Sara Baca (Ventura), goalkeeper Liz Ramos (Bakersfield) and seniors Amanda Perry (Fresno) and Katelyn Quaresma (Manteca). Also returning to a revamped starting backfield is defender Julie Megorden (Los Alamitos).
FIRE POWER RETURNS
The 49ers return 90.6 percent of their scoring output from a year ago (29 of 32). Kim Silos (nine goals), Hayley Bolt (eight goals) and Sahar Haghdan (six goals) all ranked in the Big West's top-10 in that category.
STINGY ON DEFENSE
The Beach have twice posted shutout records over the past two season, breaking their own record in 2005 with 14 in 2006. Junior Liz Ramos (Bakersfield) will return to her home town on Friday with a record 22.5 shutouts and 0.64 goals against average. Ramos, the last line of defense, has been helped by two-year starters Julie Megorden (Los Alamitos) and Tiffany Vaught (Ladera Ranch).
NEWCOMERS SET TO CONTRIBUTE
More than in any other year, this year's team has interchangeable parts. Junior midfielder Mariko Strickland (Anahola, Hawaii) is expected to be a big part of the midfield, while speedster Kristen Kiefer (Mission Viejo) and midfielder Lindsay Bullock (Manhattan Beach) are expected to be big parts of the freshmen offensive contingent. Defender Tara Corcoran (La Verne) and twin sisters Caroline and Grace Shevlin (San Diego) will also see extended time. |
