Long Beach State University Athletics
49ers Begin Home Stand with Two This Weekend
9/2/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 2, 2008
LONG BEACH-- Long Beach State Soccer (2-0-1) is looking to match its best start in school-history, when they host Harvard (0-0-0) on Friday at 4:30 p.m. to begin a four-match home stand. The weekend continues with undefeated UNLV (3-0-1) on Sunday at noon, and continues with No. 26-ranked BYU on Thursday, September 11 and Oregon on September 14.
The last time the 49ers began the year undefeated after four matches was in Mauricio Ingrassia's first year (3-0-1). They were also 3-0-1 in 2000 under Julie Cochran.
Kim Silos and Kristen Kiefer each have two goals to lead the 49ers. Silos second goal of the season was the game-winner in last week's win at Hawaii in the 94th minute. Silos and Hayley Bolt, a Soccer Buzz Elite Player of the Week two weeks ago, each have two assists. Silos is now one assist away from Annette Fernandez' 22-year old record for assists (26) and is five goals away from tying Janet Fettig's record for career goals (33).
LBSU went 13-7-0 last year and won its second straight Big West regular season title. They return 10 starters and have eight players who have played together for the previous four seasons.
This year's team has been doing it with defense so far this season, as Breanna Truelove has posted two shutouts in two starts this year, and the team has allowed seven shots or less in all three matches. LBSU's defensive line allowed just two shots against Gonzaga in the season opening win (4-0).
The Crimson, out of the Ivy League, are taking a two-match road trip to the West Coast to open their season, playing at Loyola Marymount on Sunday as well. Last year Harvard won 10 matches for first year Coach Ray Leone and return 88 percent of their scoring and five all-league performers. In all, 20 players return to a club that went 10-6-1 last year, its best win total since 2001. Lizzy Nichols is an all-region performer on defense, while goalkeeper Lauren Mann was the conference's Rookie of the Year in 2005, posting nine shutouts last year.
The Rebels head to Southern California as well this weekend, playing at CS Northridge on Friday prior to playing at George Allen Field on Sunday. Goalkeeper Alicia Lugo was named the Mountain West's Defensive Player of the Week as she continues to rack up the scoreless innings, as she has gone 299 consecutive minutes without allowing a goal. Last week UNLV cruised past Nevada 5-1 and beat Pacific, 1-0, on an own goal in the 79th minute.
The 49ers and Rebels were each among Soccer Buzz' national rankings in the "others receiving votes" category. UNLV is 10th in the West Region, LBSU is 11th. Harvard is fifth in the Northeast Region. UC Santa Barbara is ranked No. 21, while CS Fullerton is No. 24, amongst conference foes.
