Trifecta on Tap for the 49ers
LBSU at BYU on September 11, Host Oklahoma and Baylor This Weekend
September 10, 2007 PDF VERSION OF THE RELEASE TRIFECTA THIS WEEK
The No. 23-ranked 49ers (2-2-0), following single goal losses at top-25 teams, Wake Forest and Clemson, will remain on the road to take on No. 19-ranked BYU (2-0-1) at 6 p.m. Pacific on Tuesday, before hosting Oklahoma on Friday at 5 p.m. and Baylor on Sunday at 1 p.m. This will mark the third-straight week LBSU will have played on the road and third match in six days from last Wednesday to this Tuesday. The Beach lost in the 50th minute at No. 24-ranked Wake Forest after a poor start, missing two opportunities to tie it with 30 minutes left, before outplaying No. 20-ranked Clemson, but falling 2-1 after two Tiger goals over the first 20 minutes. The 49ers did not allow a shot in the second half at Clemson, out shouting the Tigers 11-to-3. COMING UP THIS WEEK
Tuesday
at No. 19 BYU 6 p.m.
Friday
Oklahoma 5 p.m.
Sunday
Baylor 1 p.m.
WHAT'S KICKING NEXT
Following three matches this week, the 49ers will travel to Oklahoma and play in the Sooners Oklahoma Classic, taking on Middle Tennessee and North Texas on September 21 and 23. That road trip will finish off four-straight weeks that the 49ers will have played on the road, logging miles to Bakersfield, the Carolinas, Provo, UT and Norman, OK.
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS
BYU, who were as high as No. 19 in the latest national polls, are 2-0-1 on the season... last week BYU beat Kansas 1-0 in overtime and tied Colorado 0-0... BYU has scored just two goals all season... the Cougars, who lost to Portland in last year's NCAA Tournament, return 10 starters after going 13-3-4 last year... Jennifer Rockwood is in her 13th season at the helm... Tuesday will serve as the home opener as the Cougars ranked third nationally in attendance... Oklahoma is 3-0-1 on the season having scorched opponents 14-to-2 on the season, including Alabama A&M (8-0), Oral Roberts (4-1) and William and Mary (2-1)... they tied Virginia Commonwealth 0-0 in their latest matchup... Whitney Palmer has four goals to lead the Sooners... the Bears are 4-0-1 on the season, prior to playing at CS Northridge on Friday... the Bears have beaten Stetson, Jacksonville, Texas-San Antonio, Texas State and LA-Lafayette... Baylor has outscored opponents 17-to-5, nearly doubling the number of shots (94-43) they've taken against their foes... Megan Sherrell has six assists, while Amanda McGrath has four assists... the two have combined for 18 points.
AT THE HELM
The 49ers quick emergence as a regional and national threat has come at the hands and feet of Head Coach Mauricio Ingrassia. Ingrassia, who has gone 34-21-7 over three-plus 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. LBSU moved up to as high as No. 23 in Soccer Buzz' first official poll.
NEWCOMERS TALLY POINTS EARLY
Fifteen of the 49ers first 19 points have come from its newcomers, especially its freshman class, ranked 27th nationally. Nikki Myers (three goals, San Diego) tallied two second half goals against CS Bakersfield, while Kristen Kiefer (Mission Viejo) and Lindsay Bullock (Manhattan Beach) each have game-winning goals. Bullock's score came in the 94th minute against Utah, while Kiefer's was the start of five straight in Bakersfield.
NIL, NADA, ZIPPO
Liz Ramos (Bakersfield), the team's starting goalkeeper the last three years, continues to add to her school-record for shutouts with 1.5 more following the first weekend. Ramos now has 24.0 shutouts in her career.
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 26 scoreless contests over two-plus seasons. They just missed the NCAA Tournament in 2006 after winning the Big West's regular season title.
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) entered the season with a record 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, HI) 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. |
