CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

Bronco Sports News

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2004

Contact: Paul Helms

(909) 869-2812

 

 

WOMEN’S SOCCER

MEDIA NOTES

 

2004 CPP Record: 4-5-2. CCAA Record: 3-1-2

 

Broncos Continue Conference Play With Two Key Contests: Cal Poly Pomona’s women’s soccer team plays two big California Collegiate Athletic Association contests against North Division opponents this week. The Broncos will face Cal State Stanislaus on Friday in Turlock before facing Chico State on Sunday. Chico State currently leads the North Division, while Cal State Stanislaus is two points behind. The Broncos are in third place in the South Division, just one point behind second-place Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Broncos are coming off another successful season. Cal Poly Pomona finished the 2003 regular season with a flourish and qualified for the California Collegiate Athletic Association championship tournament for a sixth straight year. The Broncos are the only women’s team to qualify for the conference postseason tournament in each of the sixth years of its existence.

 

Last Week: The Broncos didn’t allow a single goal last week, posting two shutouts in a row. Last Wednesday, Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State Bakersfield played to a scoreless tie 0-0 at Kellogg Field. The Broncos had a 13-3 advantage in shots but were not able to convert on any of those attempts. Goalkeeper Vanessa Richardson (Jr., Upland, Upland HS) needed to make only one save to post her first shutout of the season. Tia Rudolph (Sr., Rancho Cucamonga, Alta Loma HS), Erica Rodriguez (Jr., San Diego, Bonita Vista HS), and Sara Flowers (Fr., Santee, Santana HS) combined for seven shots on goal. This past Sunday, Cal Poly Pomona got an important conference victory by defeating Cal State L.A., 1-0, in Los Angeles. The lone goal was scored just 2:36 into the match when Jamie Venegas (Jr., Lakewood, Los Alamitos HS) scored with an assist from Chelsea Hipley (Jr., Sacramento, Woodcreek HS). Richardson made two saves to notch her second clean sheet of the week and third of the season for the Broncos. Cal Poly Pomona had a 13-7 edge in shots. 

 

Scouting the Opposition: Cal Poly Pomona holds a 6-0-0 advantage all-time against Cal State Stanislaus. The Broncos defeated the Warriors 1-0 at Kellogg Field last season. Cal Poly Pomona is 7-8-2 all-time against Chico State. Last season, the Broncos lost to the Wildcats, 3-2, in Chico. Cal Poly Pomona has not defeated Chico State since 2001.

 

Rankings: Cal Poly Pomona does not appear in the NSCAA national rankings. Among California Collegiate Athletic Association programs, UC San Diego is 19th and Sonoma State is ranked 25th. Cal State Stanislaus is among those programs receiving votes. Cal State Stanislaus is fourth and Chico State seventh in the most recent regional rankings.

 

About The Coach: One of the most recognizable names in United States soccer history, Paul Caligiuri is in his third year as Cal Poly Pomona’s head coach. He guided the Broncos to a 10-8-1 record last season and their sixth straight appearance in the California Collegiate Athletic Association championship tournament. Caligiuri was elected to the United States Soccer Hall of Fame earlier this year and will be formally inducted into the Hall of Fame next Monday, Oct. 11. In his first season as the Broncos’ head coach, Caligiuri guided the Broncos to an 11-6-2 record and into the CCAA Championship Tournament. He has a 25-19-5 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.

 

Look Who’s Back: Cal Poly Pomona has some talented players returning from its 2003 squad that finished with a 10-8-1 overall record. Leading the list of returners is Lisa Araujo (Sr., Rialto, Eisenhower HS), who was the CCAA Freshman of the Year in 2001 and earned first-team All-CCAA honors the past two seasons. Araujo was second on the team last year in scoring with six goals and 12 points. Also returning is the team’s third-leading scorer from last season, Erica Rodriguez (Jr., San Diego, Bonita Vista HS), who had three goals, four assists and 10 points. Vanessa Richardson (Jr., Upland, Upland HS) returns in goal for the Broncos. She has recorded nine shutouts in her Cal Poly Pomona career, including five last season. Chelsea Hipley (Jr., Sacramento, Woodcreek HS), who earned second-team All-CCAA honors as a freshman, is another top returner. She had eight assists as a freshman and has a total of 14 in her Cal Poly Pomona career. The Broncos also welcome back Tia Rudolph (Sr., Rancho Cucamonga, Alta Loma HS), who earned second-team All-CCAA honors in 2002 and sat out last season.

 

Look Who’s New: The Broncos are very excited about what they consider to be an outstanding recruiting class. Kimberly Stillman (Fr., Arcadia, Arcadia HS) and Jacqueline Ragudos (Fr., San Diego, University HS) are contributing as forwards, while midfielders Sara Flowers (Fr., Santee, Santana HS) and Stephanie Mrazik (Fr., Brea, Brea-Olinda HS) are also top recruits. A fifth freshman, Lindsey Latham (Fr., San Diego, Our Lady of Peace HS), is contributing to the Bronco defense.

 

A Look Ahead: After the matches this week, Cal Poly Pomona will return home to host Sonoma State on Friday and San Francisco State on Sunday. The week will begin with Cal Poly Pomona head coach Paul Caligiuri being inducted into the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneota, N.Y.

 

CAL POLY POMONA

Women’s Soccer

 

CPP Schedule & Results

 

8/26     vs. Bryant University                             L 2-3 (OT)

8/28     at Western Washington                         L 0-1

8/30     at Seattle Pacific                                   L 0-4

9/7       at Azusa Pacific                                    L 0-1 (OT)

9/10     vs. Concordia                                       W 2-1

9/14     at CS Dominguez Hills*                        W 2-1

9/17     vs. Cal State Monterey Bay*                W 6-0

9/21     vs. CS San Bernardino*                       T 1-1

9/25     vs. UC San Diego*                               L 1-3

9/29     vs. Cal State Bakersfield*                     T 0-0

10/3     at Cal State L.A.*                                W 1-0

10/8     at Cal State Stanislaus*                         3 p.m.

10/10   at Chico State*                                     12:30 p.m.

10/15   vs. Sonoma State*                                4:30 p.m.

10/17   vs. San Francisco State*                       3 p.m.

10/20   at UC San Diego*                                7 p.m.

10/23   vs. Cal State L.A.*                               4:30 p.m.

10/27   at Cal State Bakersfield*                      7 p.m.

10/30   vs. CS Dominguez Hills*                       4:30 p.m.

11/5-7  CCAA Championships                         TBA

 

*Denotes CCAA Game