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Senior
utility player, Allison Wiegand, is one
of nine returning starters on the women's
soccer team. Wiegand ranks fifth all-time
in goals — CSULB (14) and ninth in
assists (6). Matt Brown/CSULB Sports Information
New
women's soccer head coach, Mauricio Ingrassia,
is looking to continue the 49ers' steady
progression toward a Big West Conference
championship and NCAA playoff appearance.
Matt Brown/CSULB Sports Information
New
coach, players confident about season
By
Michael Bower
Online Forty-Niner
Mauricio
Ingrassia, entering his first season as
head coach of the Long Beach State women's
soccer team, said his squad has the potential
and chemistry to get to the top of the Big
West Conference this season.
"We
are going to go one game at a time,"
he said. "We are going to take each
opponent and prepare like it's our last
game."
Ingrassia
takes over a team returning 19 lettermen,
which last season recorded a 9-9-0 record
– a career best in wins at Long Beach
State since the program re-started in 1998.
The
49ers have been improving every season since
the program re-started. The coaches' poll
was not very kind though, picking The Beach
to finish in sixth place out of the 10-team
conference, but that didn't seem to bother
the players.
"I
would rather be the underdog," said
Shanna Wender, one of three returning starting
seniors.
When
asked if the team could compete with last
years Big West Conference champion, Cal
Poly, Wender responded: "I think we
are better than Cal Poly." The 49ers
lost to Cal Poly, who was picked to repeat
as Big West champions, 2-0 last season.
The
49ers have always been the underdog in the
Big West, but last seasons fourth place
finish may be a sign that the team is on
the verge of reaching the NCAA playoffs
and competing for a conference title.
"We
have a lot of returners, who competed in
almost every game last year, against some
very solid programs," Ingrassia said
in a press release. "When you go into
battle, you want 11 warriors with you. And
we've got some fighters."
Ingrassia
has a history of taking teams to the next
level. At Long Beach City College Ingrassia
coached the team to its first ever playoff
appearance in just his second season. It
did not take long for him to build the team
into a powerhouse as he won the first of
five state titles in just his third season
as coach. He left the program for Long Beach
State with a 55-match winning streak and
a state title to defend.
Adjusting
to the level of talent at Division-I and
learning the best positions for all of the
players is going to be one of Ingrassia's
toughest challenges, which may mean a slow
start for the 49ers.
"I
realize that it's going to take time,"
Ingrassia said. "With every game I
learn more and more about [the team]."
An
example of Ingrassia experimenting with
his team can be taken from the scrimmage
game against Biola on Aug. 21. Ingrassia
placed first team All-Big West senior Allison
Wiegand on the back line to start the game
and the team struggled, but when Ingrassia
moved her to midfield the team improved.
"From
first half to second half was a good improvement,"
Ingrassia said, "I thought it was good
and very positive."
Wiegand,
Wender and Kristin Travis make up the three
returning starting seniors. Ingrassia is
hoping the seniors will pave the way for
the newcomers.
"We would like to see our seniors carry
the load," he said.
Wiegand,
a utility player who will likely be playing
midfield this season, led the 49ers with
seven goals and 17 points last season. She
is one of just five players to score two
or more goals in a game and set the single-game
record for shots attempted (7) last season.
Wender,
a defender, started all 18 games last season.
The 49ers set a school-record for allowing
the least amount of goals (22) and shots
(225) in a single season thanks to the back
line. Wender was honorable mention All-Big
West and was named the co-team MVP last
year.
Travis,
a forward, is as durable as they come. She
has started 51 of a possible 55 games so
far in her three-year career at Long Beach
State. Last season Travis started all 18
games scoring one goal and recording two
assists.
The
49ers will once again go with the duo of
junior Meghan Hartwyk and sophomore Tara
Gotthardt at goalkeeper. Both had a solid
2003 season and will likely split playing
time in the 2004 season.
Hartwyk
posted a 1.29 goals against average over
22 starts in her career while Gotthardt
posted a 1.67 goals against average, but
she allowed just one goal or less in her
last three matches of the season.
"Both
Meghan and Tara are an even split to start
the season," Ingrassia said in a press
release. "They both know the responsibility
that comes with starting. We'll see who
the coaching staff thinks matches up best
with each opponent."
Natalia
Messina should provide a big boost on defense
this year. Messina was expected to have
a huge year on defense last season, but
she dislocated her fibula in the team's
second match of the year. Even with the
absence of Messina the 49ers recorded five
shutouts. With Messina ready to go this
season, it is easy to see why Ingrassia
believes the defense is the strong point
of the team.
Two
freshmen making an early impact for the
49ers are Hilary Goldberg and Kelli Goes.
Goldberg, a midfielder from Woodbridge,
Calif., scored the team's only goal in the
scrimmage against Biola. She garnered All-San
Joaquin Conference honors as a sophomore
and a junior in high school.
Goes,
a midfielder from Manteca, Calif., was named
the MVP as a sophomore and a senior in high
school. She scored 17 goals as a sophomore
and 14 more as a junior.
The
soccer team will be hitting the air waves
for the first time this season. The team
will have five games televised locally.
Two games have already been televised and
the three upcoming games will be televised
Oct. 8 against Pacific, Oct. 10 against
Cal State Northridge and Oct. 31 against
UC Riverside.
The
women's soccer team will be hosting the
second annual 49er Classic beginning this
Friday at George Allen Field. The 49ers
play at 5 p.m. Friday against Drake, and
on Sunday against Iona at 1 p.m.
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