CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

Bronco Sports News

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2003

Contact: Paul Helms

(909) 869-2812

 

 

WOMEN’S SOCCER

MEDIA NOTES

 

2003 CPP Record: 5-4-1. CCAA Record: 3-4-0 (9 points)

Regional Ranking: 7 (NSCAA)

 

Broncos Try To Get Back On Track This Week: Cal Poly Pomona’s women’s soccer team, after four tough losses in its last six games, looks to get back on track this weekend when the Broncos face a pair of California Collegiate Athletic Association North Division contenders at Kellogg Field. The Broncos will face Sonoma State on Friday at 4:30 p.m. and San Francisco State on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. Cal Poly Pomona is in a battle right now to qualify for the postseason CCAA Championship Tournament. The Broncos have reached the tourney five straight years, but will need a strong finish to make it six years in a row. Cal Poly Pomona is currently in third place in the CCAA South Division, two points behind second-place Cal State San Bernardino. Sonoma State is tied for third in the North Division with a 2-2-1 conference mark, while San Francisco State leads the North Division with a 3-2-0 record. After this weekend’s games, the Broncos will only have two home games remaining in the 2003 season.

 

Last Week: Cal Poly Pomona split its pair of games last weekend, beating Cal State Stanislaus and losing to Cal State Bakersfield. The Broncos blanked the Warriors, 1-0, in a big game Friday night at Kellogg Field. Cal Poly Pomona is now 6-0-0 all-time against Cal State Stanislaus with five shutouts. The game was evenly-played throughout and the Broncos finally broke through in the 80th minute. Joanna Cantelletta (Jr., Alta Loma, Mt. San Antonio College) scored her second goal of the season to lift the Broncos to the win. Karen Lawrence (Fr., Upland, Upland HS) set up the scoring play with a long run down the sideline and a nice pass to the center of the field. Cantelletta was able to direct the ball into the net for the lone score of the game. Vanessa Richardson (So., Upland, Upland HS) made three saves for the Broncos to record the shutout. Cal Poly Pomona was unable to generate any momentum from the win, though, and lost to Cal State Bakersfield, 4-1, on Sunday. The Broncos gave up one goal in the first 4:23 of the match and two in the first 21:30 and never recovered. Lisa Araujo (Jr., Rialto, Eisenhower HS) got the Broncos’ only goal of the game in the 28th minute. Tara Chance (Sr., Alta Loma, Alta Loma HS) set up the scoring play by sending a long kick into the Cal State Bakersfield goalie box. Araujo got to the ball and knocked it into the goal.

 

Scouting the Opposition: The Broncos are 4-11-1 all-time against Sonoma State, although the Broncos did beat the Seawolves last year, 3-1 in Sonoma. The Seawolves beat the Broncos in the last meeting at Kellogg Field, 3-2, in 2002. Sonoma State has won four of the past six meetings between the two programs. Cal Poly Pomona is 6-5-1 all-time against San Francisco State, but lost a costly 1-0 defeat last year to the Gators. That defeat most likely cost the Broncos a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs because San Francisco State qualified as the third team from the region even though the Gators did not qualify for the CCAA Championship Tournament.

 

Rankings: Cal Poly Pomona has fallen out of the national Top-25 after losing four times in its last six matches. The Broncos opened the season ranked 14th in the nation and climbed to 12th after the victories over Fresno Pacific and Western Oregon. Cal Poly Pomona finished 25th in the nation in 2002, its fourth straight finish in the national Top 25. The Broncos were second in 1999, 18th in 2000, ninth in 2001 and 25th last year. The Broncos finished in a tie for third in the final regional rankings last season, but lost out to San Francisco State for the third and final playoff spot. Cal Poly Pomona has slipped to seventh in the Far West Region rankings in the latest poll. San Francisco State is fourth.

 

Taking A Chance: The Broncos are benefiting from the return of All-American defender Tara Chance (Sr., Alta Loma, Alta Loma HS). Chance was a third-team All-American in 2001, but suffered a season-ending knee injury in the fourth game of the 2002 season. In her first five games back with the Broncos, Cal Poly Pomona posted three shutouts and allowed only three goals. Chance earned third-team All-America honors in 2001 after spearheading a defense that set a new program record for fewest goals allowed (13). She also scored the game-winning goal in the Broncos’ season opener that year, against Azusa Pacific, in a 1-0 victory. Chance was named the CCAA Player of the Week for the week of Aug. 26 – Sept. 1 after leading the Broncos to shutout victories over Fresno Pacific and Western Oregon. Chance picked up her first assist of the season when she helped Lisa Araujo (Jr., Rialto, Eisenhower HS) score the Broncos’ only goal Sunday against Cal State Bakersfield.

 

Moving Up The Charts: Michelle McConnell (Sr., Alta Loma, Alta Loma HS) continues her fantastic Cal Poly Pomona career. McConnell, who has led the Broncos in scoring the past two years, is leading Cal Poly Pomona again this season. McConnell has four goals and three assists for 11 points in the Broncos’ first 10 games. The four goals give her 27 for her Cal Poly Pomona career, which is fifth on the all-time list. Her three assists give her 23 for her Cal Poly Pomona career, which is second only to Ruth Van’t Land’s record of 29.  She now has 77 total points, which is second all-time to Van’t Land’s 181.

 

Look Who’s Back: Cal Poly Pomona has some talented players returning from its 2002 squad that finished with an 11-6-2 overall record. The Broncos have seven starters and 12 players in all returning. Michelle McConnell (Sr., Alta Loma, Alta Loma HS) has led the team in scoring for the past two seasons. She earned first-team All-CCAA and second-team All-West Region honors last season after scoring eight goals and seven assists despite missing five matches due to a stress fracture in her shin. Lisa Araujo (Jr., Rialto, Eisenhower HS) tied for the team lead in goals scored last year with eight and earned first-team All-CCAA and second-team All-West Region honors. Erica Rodriguez (So., San Diego, Bonita Vista HS) was one of the most pleasant surprises last season and had five goals and three assists. Chelsea Hipley (So., Sacramento, Woodcreek HS) had a solid debut and earned second-team All-CCAA honors after finishing third in the team in scoring with four goals and 16 points. Vanessa Richardson (So., Upland, Upland HS) started four games last season and was ready to assume the No. 1 goaltender position this year. Richardson was 3-1-1 last year with a 1.06 goals against average. And, of course, Tara Chance (Sr., Alta Loma, Alta Loma HS) returns after missing most of the 2002 season with a knee injury.

 

Look Who’s New: The Broncos are very excited about what they consider an outstanding recruiting class. Devon Nizich (Fr., San Pedro, San Pedro HS) is expected to be the team’s playmaker and, in the team’s first 10 matches, she is tied for fourth on the team in scoring with one goal and two assists. Kristi Ibello (Fr., Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa HS) is another top newcomer who is expected to play a major role on the team, although injuries have limited her to eight games so far. Nicole Munoz (Jr., Claremont, Mt. San Antonio College) was expected to be a major factor as a midfielder, but she’s only been able to play in six games. Bethany Inoshita (Fr., Ventura, Ventura HS) is expected to help solidify the defense.

 

About The Coach: One of the most recognizable names in United States soccer history, Paul Caligiuri is in his second year as Cal Poly Pomona’s head coach. He guided the Broncos to an 11-6-2 record last season despite several injuries to key players. He has a 16-10-3 overall record with the Broncos. Caligiuri is a former member of the Los Angeles Galaxy and United States National Team member. One of the most memorable moments of his playing career came in 1990 when he scored the game-winning goal – known as the “Goal Heard Round The World” – against Trinidad & Tobago that qualified the U.S. for its first World Cup appearance in 40 years. Caligiuri made 110 game appearances for the United States National Team.

 

A Look Ahead: After the home games this weekend against Sonoma State and San Francisco State this weekend, the Broncos only have two home games remaining, against Pt. Loma on Oct. 15 and Cal State San Bernardino on Nov. 1. The Broncos will be at Chico State on Oct. 10 and UC Davis on Oct. 12.

 

CAL POLY POMONA

Women’s Soccer

 

CPP Schedule & Results

 

8/28     at Fresno Pacific                                   W 4-0

8/31     vs. Western Oregon                              W 1-0

9/3       at Concordia-Irvine                              T 1-1

9/9       vs. Grand Canyon*                               W 3-0

9/13     vs. UC San Diego*                               L 1-2 (OT)

9/16     at CS San Bernardino*             L 3-5

9/19     at Cal State L.A.*                                W 3-1

9/22     at CS Dominguez Hills*                        L 0-1

9/26     vs. Cal State Stanislaus*                       W 1-0

9/28     vs. Cal State Bakersfield*                     L 1-4

10/3     vs. Sonoma State*                                4:30 p.m.

10/5     vs. San Francisco State*                       12:30 p.m.

10/10   at Chico State*                         7 p.m.

10/12   at UC Davis*                                       12:30 p.m.

10/15   vs. Pt. Loma Nazarene             7 p.m.

10/25   at Grand Canyon*                                5 p.m.

10/29   at UC San Diego*                                7 p.m.

11/1     vs. CS San Bernardino*                       7 p.m.

 

*Denotes CCAA Game