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	Vol.7, No 20, October 4, 1999
	Club soccer kicks  By Jose Corado Daily Forty-Niner   Indeed itís a sad truth for Cal State Long Beach students that there isn't a men's Division I soccer team here. However, that doesn't mean that the goals sitting on the athletic field donít dance to the samba. The National Collegiate Soccer Association's tournament kicked off earlier this month. LBSU is part of this competition. Although this is not Division I, it doesnít mean itís not an important game.  Title IX, which is the gender equity law states that all Universities must have the same number of participating Division I athletes in its athletic department.  Any hopes of bringing men's soccer up to the Division I level ride entirely on the decision to create another women's Division I team to balance the scale. The NCSA tournament is just as tough as Division I and perhaps more competitive. With 105 club teams competing for the title, a higher number of teams than in Division I, there is no time to play around. For those of you who are not very thrilled, consider this. The win rate of the team is 80 percent -- the same rate of volleyball. "Two years ago we ended up seventh in the nation," Head Coach Sanjit Toor said. "This year we are a lot stronger." The team opened the season with a 6-1 win in their first game. "We are way ahead of last year," Toor said. "Our expectations are high for this season." Most of the players are new this year.  Returning players include Daniel Kalano, Brain McMahon, Steve Thomas, Michael Stevens, Nanny Arrequin and Jordan Nedeff. The 49ers' season consists of 11 regular games and participation in the West Region Tournament to be held in Las Vegas or Phoenix on Nov. 5 and 6. Also Impressive is the fact that this is a team of mostly all-CIF players.  "We have five guys that can play in Division I right now," Toor said.  There is also a couple of President Scholars on the team. One of them is David Miller from Sentenio High School. Toor said the level of play in the NCSA is about the same as in Division I.  When Brigham Young University, the strongest team in the NCSA, plays a top-ranked team in the NCAA, they always come out with positive results, he said. Just like in Division I, practice is mandatory.  "If a player misses practice, they donít get to play," Toor said.  Practices are held every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30 to 6 p.m. and Friday and Saturday mornings. Although there is no official code of conduct contract, players are expected to follow these simple rules: no drinking and no smoking. They manage to survive with an annual budget from the university.  However, the players also engage in fund-raising to help cover the teamís expenditures.		The men's club soccer mid-fielder David Miller, left, jukes the goalkeeper, Tijs Van Liemt, on the athletic practice field, Tuesday.                                                                                                                                             A.S.I. seeks Smashmouth Football return proposed Student injures head on campus Forum will assist graduate studies Two campus centers join fight against breast cancer Italian author makes way to CSULB Theater professor aids world's disadvantaged Visiting not a right A.S.I. won't come up with concert act 'Superstar' good laugh Club soccer kicks Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.