CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

Bronco Sports News

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2004

Contact: Paul Helms

(909) 869-2812

 

 

WOMEN’S SOCCER

MEDIA NOTES

 

2004 CPP Record: 6-6-3. 2004 CCAA Record: 5-2-3

2004 Far West Region Ranking: 7

 

Broncos’ Postseason Push Continues This Week: Cal Poly Pomona’s women’s soccer, which appears in the NSCAA Far West Region rankings for the first time this season, continues California Collegiate Athletic Association play this week with matches at UC San Diego on Wednesday and home against Cal State L.A. on Saturday. With four games remaining in the regular season, Cal Poly Pomona currently occupies the second wild-card spot, two points ahead of Sonoma State. After an 0-4 start, the Broncos are 6-2-3 in their last 11 matches. Cal Poly Pomona is currently ranked seventh in the NSCAA Far West Region rankings. The top four teams in the NCAA Division II Far West poll at the end of the regular season will earn playoff bids. On Saturday afternoon, the Broncos return home to face the Golden Eagles of Cal State L.A. The two division winners plus two wild-card teams will advance to the CCAA Championship Tournament. The Broncos are coming off another successful season. Cal Poly Pomona finished the 2003 regular season with a flourish and qualified for the CCAA 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: Cal Poly Pomona played two key California Collegiate Athletic Association contests last week at Kellogg Field. The Broncos had to settle for a 2-2 tie with fellow playoff hopeful Sonoma State on Friday. Nicole Munoz (Sr., Claremont, Mt. San Antonio College) and Jacqueline Ragudos (Fr., San Diego, University of San Diego HS) scored the goals for the Broncos. Ragudos’ second-half goal gave the Broncos the lead, but Sonoma State earned the tie with goal in the final nine minutes of regulation. Vanessa Richardson (Jr., Upland, Upland HS) made five saves for Cal Poly Pomona. Sonoma State had a 15-14 edge in shots. Two days later, the Broncos appeared headed for another overtime session, but Erica Rodriquez (Jr., San Diego, Bonita Vista HS) had other plans. Her game-winning goal with three minutes remaining gave Cal Poly Pomona a 2-1 win over San Francisco State. The goal was the second of two goals scored in the second half by the Broncos, who were trailing 1-0 at halftime. Lisa Araujo (Sr., Rialto, Eisenhower HS) headed in the other goal, courtesy of a cross by Chelsea Hipley (Jr., Sacramento, Woodcreek HS). The header was Araujo’s team-leading sixth goal of the season. Hipley picked up her team-high fourth assist. Richardson had three saves for the Broncos. Cal Poly Pomona had a 10-8 edge in shots and an 8-1 advantage in the second half.      

 

Scouting the Opposition: Cal Poly Pomona is 7-18-4 all-time against UC San Diego. Earlier this season, the Tritons defeated the Broncos 3-1 at Kellogg Field. UC San Diego is currently in first place in the CCAA South Division with a conference record of 8-1-1 (25 points). The Broncos hold a 13-2-0 all-time advantage against Cal State L.A. The Broncos defeated the Golden Eagles, 1-0, in Los Angeles earlier this season. Cal Poly Pomona has not lost to Cal State L.A. since 1998.

 

Rankings: Cal Poly Pomona does not appear in the NSCAA national rankings. Among California Collegiate Athletic Association programs, UC San Diego is 17th in the nation and Cal State Dominguez Hills is 25th. UC San Diego is third in the Far West Region, while Cal Poly Pomona is seventh.

 

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 was formally inducted into the Hall of Fame in Oneonta, N.Y., on 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 27-20-6 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. Jacqueline Ragudos (Fr., San Diego, University HS) is  contributing as a forward, while midfielders Sara Flowers (Fr., Santee, Santana HS) and Stephanie Mrazik (Fr., Brea, Brea-Olinda HS) are also top recruits. A fourth 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 compete in its final two regular-season games of 2004. The Broncos will be at Cal State Bakersfield on Wednesday, Oct. 27, and will then host Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday, Oct. 30.

 

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*                         W 3-0

10/10   at Chico State*                                     L 0-1

10/15   vs. Sonoma State*                                T 2-2

10/17   vs. San Francisco State*                       W 2-1

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