Long Beach State University Athletics
LBSU Entertains Northern Arizona in Season Opener on Friday
8/21/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug 21, 2013
Northern Arizona (0-0-0) at
Long Beach State (0-0-0)
Date: Friday, Aug. 23
Time: 7 p.m. (PDT)
Location: George Allen Field
Series Record: First Meeting
Follow Your 49ers:
FIRST GOAL
The Long Beach State women's soccer team will host Northern Arizona in its 2013 season opener on Friday, Aug. 23. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. (PDT) at George Allen Field.
THE SERIES
This will mark the first meeting between Long Beach State and Northern Arizona.
SCOUTING THE LUMBERJACKS
Northern Arizona returns 21 letterwinners and 10 starters from its 2012 squad that went 5-9-5 overall and finished in a tie for sixth in the Big Sky Conference. The Lumberjacks bring back their top two scorers in sophomore forwards Demi Schmieder (3 goals, 4 assists) and Haley Wingender (2 goals, 1 assist), while they also return sophomore goalkeeper Natalie Gilbertson who totaled 36 saves and a 2.01 goals against average in seven games played.
TOUGH SCHEDULE
LBSU will face three non-conference opponents who were ranked in the NSCAA Preseason Poll. The 49ers have road contests next week at No. 16 Santa Clara (Aug. 29) and No. 24 Texas Tech (Sept. 1). They then return home to host sixth-ranked BYU (Sept. 21), which advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight a year ago.
BIG WEST PRESEASON POLL
Long Beach State was picked to finish in a tie for second in the 2013 Big West Conference Preseason Coaches Poll the league office announced on Aug. 15. The 49ers and UC Irvine both received one first-place vote and compiled 62 points. Cal State Fullerton, the 2012 regular-season champion, was tabbed the preseason favorite with five first-place nods and 72 points. Cal Poly claimed the remaining two first-place votes to come in fourth with 59 points, while Cal State Northridge wasn't far behind in fifth with 54 points.
THREE 49ERS EARN PRESEASON HONORS
The Big West also revealed its 12-member preseason all-conference team, which featured three 49ers - Eileen Maes, Taylor Nelson and Elizabeth Lyons. Maes, a senior midfielder, was a second-team All-Big West selection after finishing with a team-high nine goals last year. Maes also tallied three assists, 21 points and 45 shot attempts. Nelson, garnered All-Big West honorable mention recognition in 2012. The junior midfielder played every game, finishing with three assists and 28 shots. Lyons, a sophomore forward, was named to the 2012 Big West All-Freshman Team as she had two goals, three assists and 30 shot attempts.
BACK ON THE PITCH
In addition to Maes, Nelson and Lyons, the 49ers return nine other letterwinners from last year. Seniors Jessika Oseguera (3 goals, 1 assist), Kristyn Benavidez (2 goals), Kassidy Hause (1 goal, 1 assist) and Chyann Saban are back for their final season. They will be joined by junior Natalie Zeenni and sophomores Melanie Fox, Marie MacKenzie, Kaci McCain and Hannah Sanders. Sanders was selected to the 2012 Big West All-Freshman Team.
INGRASSIA SETS NEW STANDARD
Tenth-year head coach Mauricio Ingrassia is the winningest coach in LBSU women's soccer history. Since his arrival in 2004, the 49ers have developed not only into a perennial powerhouse in the Big West, but also into one of the nation's elite. Ingrassia has led Long Beach State to five conference titles and four NCAA Tournament appearances, including an unprecedented run to the Elite Eight in 2011. He has also guided LBSU to seven 10-plus win campaigns.
Ingrassia reached a personal milestone last year, registering career win No. 100 with the 49ers' 2-1 victory over Michigan on Sept. 2, 2012. Ingrassia enters the 2013 season with a 108-62-17 career record at LBSU.
FOR OPENERS
Long Beach State is looking for its third-straight season-opening win on Friday. The 49ers are 7-6-2 in openers since 1998, and have won six of their last seven.
HOME SWEET HOME
Over the last eight years, Long Beach State has been dominant at home, compiling an impressive 53-16-8 record (.740) at George Allen Field. The 49ers recently put together a program-record 13-game home winning streak that lasted from Sept. 18, 2011 to Oct. 5, 2012. Since women's soccer was reinstated in 1998, LBSU owns a 77-42-16 overall record at George Allen Field.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
Long Beach State embarks on its first road trip of the season next week when it heads to No. 16 Santa Clara for a 7 p.m. showdown on Thursday, Aug. 29. The 49ers then make their way to No. 24 Texas Tech on Sunday, Sept. 1, with kick-off slated for 4:30 p.m. (PT).
