CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

Bronco Sports News

For Immediate Release

Thursday, Sept. 9, 2004

Contact: Paul Helms

(909) 869-2812

 

 

WOMEN’S SOCCER

MEDIA NOTES

 

2004 CPP Record: 0-4. CCAA Record: 0-0-0

 

Broncos Search For First Win Of 2004: Cal Poly Pomona’s women’s soccer team, which has played in some extraordinary tough luck so far this season, will try again for its first win of 2004 when the Broncos host Concordia-Irvine on Friday at 5 p.m. at Kellogg Field. Cal Poly Pomona will open California Collegiate Athletic Association play on Tuesday at Cal State Dominguez Hills and will then play their next four games at Kellogg Field. The Broncos are off to an 0-4 start for the first time since 1995. 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 tourney in each of the sixth years of its existence.

 

Last Match: The Broncos played a strong all-around game, but fell to Azusa Pacific, the No. 2-ranked NAIA team in the country, 1-0 in overtime. Three of the Broncos’ four losses have come by one goal, two of them in overtime. The Broncos played Azusa Pacific to a standstill and actually outplayed the hosts in the first half. The Cougars, though, got the game’s only goal just 3:47 into overtime, scoring off a corner kick. Vanessa Richardson (Jr., Upland, Upland HS) had a remarkable game in goal for the Broncos, recording 10 saves. The 10 saves tied a career high Richardson set last season in a 3-2 win over San Francisco State. Azusa Pacific held a 16-13 edge in shots.

 

Scouting the Opposition: The Broncos will face a Concordia team that entered a game on Thursday against Cal State Dominguez Hills with a 0-1-1 record. The Broncos are 1-0-1 all-time against Concordia after the two teams played to a 1-1 tie last season in Irvine.

 

Rankings: Cal Poly Pomona does not appear in the NSCAA national rankings. UC San Diego is ranked 14th in the country, while Sonoma State and Cal State Stanislaus received votes, but were not ranked in the Top 25.

 

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 in October. 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 21-18-3 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.

 

Look Who’s Back: Cal Poly Pomona has some talented players returning from its 2003 squad that finished with an 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 seven 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 11 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 expected to contribute 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 expected to be a major contributor on defense.

 

A Look Ahead: After the non-conference game against Concordia on Friday, the Broncos will open California Collegiate Athletic Association play on Tuesday at Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Broncos will then host four consecutive games, beginning with a Friday, Sept. 17 match against Cal State Monterey Bay.

 

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                                       5 p.m.

9/14     at CS Dominguez Hills*                        4 p.m.

9/17     vs. Cal State Monterey Bay*                4:30 p.m.

9/21     vs. CS San Bernardino*                       4:30 p.m.

9/25     vs. UC San Diego*                               7 p.m.

9/29     vs. Cal State Bakersfield*                     7 p.m.

10/3     at Cal State L.A.*                                3 p.m.

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