CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

Bronco Sports News

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2003

Contact: Paul Helms

(909) 869-2812

 

 

WOMEN’S SOCCER

MEDIA NOTES

 

2003 CPP Record: 7-4-1. CCAA Record: 5-4-0 (15 points)

Regional Ranking: 7 (NSCAA)

 

Broncos Head North For An Important Set Of Games: Cal Poly Pomona’s women’s soccer team, after two crucial victories at Kellogg Field last week, will face a pair of California Collegiate Athletic Association North Division leaders this week on the road. The Broncos will be at Chico State on Friday for a 7 p.m. match and then face UC Davis, the team that eliminated Cal Poly Pomona from the CCAA Championship Tournament last season, on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. UC Davis, which is leaving the CCAA for the Big West Conference, is not eligible for postseason play this year, but leads the North Division with a 4-3-0 record. Chico State is a close second at 3-3-1 in conference. Chico State is currently ranked eighth in the Far West region. After this weekend’s games, the Broncos will host Pt. Loma on Oct. 15 and then conclude CCAA play with three games against South Division competition.

 

Last Week: Cal Poly Pomona swept its pair of games last week to keep alive its hopes of a sixth straight appearance in the CCAA Championship Tournament. The Broncos remained two points behind Cal State San Bernardino, which currently has the best second-place record in the conference. The three division winners plus the top second-place team advance to the championship tourney. The Broncos started the weekend with a 3-2 victory over Sonoma State. A penalty kick by Michelle McConnell (Sr., Alta Loma, Alta Loma HS) in the 69th minute proved to be the game-winner. The Broncos also got goals from Lisa Araujo (Jr., Rialto, Eisenhower HS) and Tara Chance (Sr., Alta Loma, Alta Loma HS). Araujo gave the Broncos a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute when she got a pass from Kristi Ibello (Fr., Santa Rose, Ursaline HS) and knocked a shot past the Sonoma State goalie. The Broncos made it 2-0 in the 60th minute thanks to the second career goal by Chance, the Broncos’ top defender, who drilled a shot off the post and into the net. Sonoma State scored just 20 seconds later to make a game of it, but Araujo was fouled in the penalty area and McConnell, taking the kick, rifled a shot into the left corner of the goal. Sonoma State made things interesting with a goal in the 73rd minute, but the Broncos hung on for the win. On Sunday, the Broncos rallied with two late goals to record an important 3-2 victory over San Francisco State. The Gators opened the scoring in the 26th minute, but the Broncos got the tying goal in the first minute of the second half when Leia Baldaray (Jr., Riverside, Arlington HS) got to a corner kick by McConnell and shot the ball into the goal. San Francisco State regained the lead in the 53rd minute, but a centering pass by McConnell found Bethany Inoshita (Fr., Ventura, Ventura HS) in the 75th minute and she scored her second goal of the season. Then, with just less than five minutes to go, Jamie Venegas (So., Lakewood, Los Alamitos HS) got a pass from Inoshita and fired a shot into the left corner of the net to give the Broncos the victory. Vanessa Richardson (So., Upland, Upland HS) had a strong game in goal for the Broncos and made 10 big saves.

 

McConnell Named CCAA Player Of The Week: Michelle McConnell (Sr., Alta Loma, Alta Loma HS) was named the Brine California Collegiate Athletic Association Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 29 – Oct. 5. McConnell had the game-winning goal and an assist in a 3-2 win over Sonoma State on Friday and she had two assists on Sunday to help the Broncos rally to a 3-2 win over Sonoma State.

 

Scouting the Opposition: The Broncos are 7-7-2 all-time against Chico State, but lost to the Wildcats, 1-0, at Kellogg Field last season. Cal Poly Pomona had won the previous five matches. Chico State is led by Amy Swanson, who has scored five goals and has seven assists for 17 points. Jessica Parker has scored four goals. Angela Orr has a goals against average of 1.22 and a save percentage of .709. She has four shutouts. Cal Poly Pomona is 7-9 all-time against UC Davis and split two meetings with the Aggies last season. The Broncos beat UC Davis, 1-0, at Kellogg Field, but the Aggies prevailed, 2-1, in overtime in the CCAA Championship Tournament at Sonoma State. That defeat prevented the Broncos from qualifying for the NCAA Division II playoffs.

 

Rankings: Cal Poly Pomona has fallen out of the national Top-25. 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 remained seventh in the Far West Region rankings in the latest poll. Chico State is eighth.

 

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. This season, 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 against Cal State Bakersfield and she scored her first goal of the season on Friday against Sonoma State.

 

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. She was just named the Brine CCAA Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 29 – Oct. 5. McConnell has five goals and six assists for 16 points in the Broncos’ first 12 games. The five goals give her 28 for her Cal Poly Pomona career, which is fifth on the all-time list. Her six assists give her 26 for her Cal Poly Pomona career, which is second only to Ruth Van’t Land’s record of 29.  She now has 82 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 one of the team’s playmakers and, in the team’s first 12 matches, she has one goal and two assists. Kristi Ibello (Fr., Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa HS) is another top newcomer who is expected is making significant contributions and Nicole Munoz (Jr., Claremont, Mt. San Antonio College) is starting to be a major factor as a midfielder after battling some injury woes. Bethany Inoshita (Fr., Ventura, Ventura HS) has helped solidify the defense and she’s shown some offensive punch as well, scoring two goals and contributing one assist. Karen Lawrence (Fr., Upland, Upland HS) has added some punch to the lineup and is tied for second on the team in scoring with two goals and two assists.

 

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 18-10-3 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 road games this weekend against Chico State and UC Davis, the Broncos will host Point Loma Nazarene on Oct. 15 before finishing the season with three conference games against South Division competition.

 

 

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*                                W 3-2

10/5     vs. San Francisco State*                       W 3-2

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