Aug. 22, 2006
SAN DIEGO - After posting consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 1998-99, narrowly missing its second straight trip to the Mountain West Conference championship game and scoring its most goals since 2002, the San Diego State women's soccer team looks poised to make a run for an NCAA tournament berth in 2006.
With 16 letterwinners, eight starters and four of its top five goal scorers returning for the 2006 campaign, a trip to NCAA's seems even more likely.
As was the case last year, when SDSU went 11-9-2 but lost six games with their opponents scoring in the last eight minutes of play, youth and inexperience will be the main obstacle to overcome for second-year head coach Mike Giuliano and the Aztecs.
Of the 31 players on the 2006 roster, 23 are either freshmen or sophomores, and only one, senior Jennifer Klunder, has played for three years at SDSU.
"I know we have the talent," Giuliano said. "The question is will the young players be able to adjust to the college level?"
These young and inexperienced players, however, are not your normal players. Soccer Buzz ranked SDSU's 2006 recruiting class the 30th-best in the nation, after cracking the top 20 (No. 19) for the first time in school history. in 2005.
"Our expectation is the NCAA tournament," Giuliano said. "We have a team that, talent-wise, is the best team (the coaching staff) have ever recruited. We just have to put it all together. We want to be in the position to win the (2006) MWC championship and receive the (conference's) automatic bid."
Forwards
What has arguably been San Diego State's weakness over the past few years seems to be the glaring strength of the 2006 squad. After scoring only 19 and 17 goals, respectively, in 2003 and 2004, the Aztecs exploded for 28 goals in 2005, with 24 coming from freshmen and sophomores.
With sophomores Jen Mello and Erika Sutton coming off a great summer of training and the addition of Soccer Buzz nationally ranked recruits Jessica Gordon and Heather Vandevanter, the 2006 SDSU squad could rack up goals at record pace.
"Our two-year goal was to improve this offense," Giuliano said. "We have worked hard and we think the fruits of our labor paid off with this year's group. Between (Jen) Mello and Erika (Sutton), and our two "Golden Boot" winners (Jessica Gordon and Heather Vandevanter) coming in, we're going to score some goals.
"We have so many options and the competition for playing time is going to be great. These kids are so good that we are going to have to find playing time for them. We could not be more excited about what we are going to do offensively."
Mello led the team as a freshman with eight goals and finished the season second on the squad with 17 points. A terrific spring and an even better summer could mean a big year for the Pleasanton, Calif., native.
"Mello is playing as well as I have ever seen her play," Giuliano said. "I expect even greater things out of her this season."
Sutton, a 2005 Soccer Buzz Freshman All-Far West Region and all-MWC second-team selection, is coming off one of the best freshman seasons in Aztec history. Sutton, who could also see playing time in the midfield this season, led the team in points (20), assists (10), shots (57), shots on goal (21) and game-winning goals (four). Only two other Aztecs (Lori LaCoursiere - 14 (1999) and Catherine McGuire - 11 (1998)) have had more helpers in a season then Sutton.
"Erika keeps improving as the months go on," Giuliano said. "I had some coaches tell me at the MWC tournament last year that Erika was the best player there and I agree. I really think she found herself in the tournament and finally figured out that she is good enough to dominate a game."
The addition of Gordon and Vandevanter will add to an already potent offense.
"Jessica is probably the purest goal-scorer we have ever recruited," Giuliano said. "And I could go on and on about Heather. She is a pure target forward and knows how to play that position better than anyone."
Senior Jackie Ragudos, a transfer from Cal Poly Pomona, and sophomore Becky Ryan, who played all three skill positions in 2005, should also see a fair amount of playing time.
"I'm crazy about (Jackie) Ragudos," Giuliano said. "Ryan is much improved and was our leading scorer in the spring."
Junior Tiphanie Elliott and sophomore Alicia Piz, who both suffered season-ending knee injuries in 2005, should also be in the mix once they are healthy. Elliott had two goals as a freshman and Piz registered four points (one goal, two assists) in 2005 in just nine games.
Sophomores Megan Petrik (four shots in 2005) and Leann Sgobba, who Giuliano calls his smartest player, add depth in the front.
Midfielders
The midfield should be strong for SDSU in 2006 with the return of all three of its starters in juniors Jessica Girdner and Ashley Tenn, and sophomore Mariko Strickland.
Giuliano, however, would like to see an improvement on the defensive side of the ball from the midfield.
"Our whole goal with the midfielders is to improve our team defense," Giuliano said. "We think that is something that we didn't do as well as we could have last year. We need that more than ever with our young and inexperienced backfield."
Girdner, a co-captain, has improved dramatically in each of her two seasons on The Mesa and will be looked upon to provide veteran leadership to such a young group. Girdner scored both of her goals last season in a near upset at Nebraska.
"Jessica Girdner has worked hard all summer and I'm anxious to see how she responds now that she is a leader on this team," Giuliano said. "Ashley Tenn is back and Mariko is coming off a club championship and is ready to go."
Tenn, a 2005 transfer from Nebraska, made the most of her first season at San Diego State, tallying one goal and one assist.
Strickland showed flashes of brilliance in 2005 and finished the season second on the team with three assists. The Anahola, Hawaii native also was third on the squad in assists (three), shots (33) and shots on goal (13).
"(Mariko) is our Ronaldinho of the midfield," Giuliano said. "She's magical with the ball and works hard for all 90 minutes."
The return of sophomore Carrie Blankenbuhler and the addition of highly-touted freshman Cat Walker will bolster the midfield.
"(Carrie) had a terrific first year and is a versatile performer who we will probably use in the midfield and in the back," Giuliano said. "Then we add Cat Walker who is just a tremendous talent at midfield."
Blankenbuhler started eight games for the Aztecs in 2005 and will see some time at both midfielder and as a defender in the upcoming campaign.
Walker is a two-time club state champion with the San Juan Spirits (Sacramento, Calif.) and is also a member of the Cal North ODP State team and member of the Super Y National Select team.
"Considering how much depth we have at forward, we anticipate bringing a couple back to play in the midfield," Giuliano said. "We just know there are too many big-time players on the front line to have none of them play other positions."
Some of those candidates include clutch goal-scorers Klunder and junior Lisa Nielsen. All four of Klunder's career goals have been game-winning tallies, while Nielsen (two goals, three assists in career) has one game-winning goal and had the final score in SDSU's 2-0 upset over No. 17 Brigham Young in the MWC tournament.
"We fell Jen (Klunder) may have found her nitch in the midfield," Giuliano said. "Lisa (Nielsen) works hard and always seems to find a spot on the field."
Ryan and sophomore Jillian Riker will add depth and could also see playing time in the midfield.
Defenders
Unlike the last two seasons, where the Aztecs surrendered only 41 goals in 43 games, the defense is the bigger question of this year's team. SDSU loses three defensive starters from a year ago, including three-time first-team all-MWC performer Alexis Solovij and two-time all-MWC selection Amanda Swiader.
Sophomore Millie Allen, a starter in all 21 games she played in 2006, will lead a defense that could start four underclassmen.
"Millie has been playing well over the summer and she certainly is playing her best soccer," Giuliano said. "She just keeps getting better and better."
Junior co-captain Ashley Young will also vie for a starting job after starting in the backfield much of her freshman season and seeing significant playing time a year ago.
"Ashley Young won a starting job at the end of last season and she is back," Giuliano said.
"When we sit down and look at a potential lineup, there are so many names that we have put down at that position. Our success rides on how well our four defenders in the back will play and adjust to college soccer."
What the Aztecs lose in experience from last season, they certainly make up in talent.
Five recruits from Giuliano's 2006 nationally ranked recruiting class are defenders.
"When she is healthy, Lauren Leslie is as good a defender as we have ever recruited," Giuliano said. "And we've seen moments of brilliance out of Allie Crowson, Lauren Marquez, Leslie White and Shayla Williams."
Leslie, a member of the Southern Cal Blues club team, is a blazingly fast defender and a member of the Cal South ODP state team.
"Lauren's nickname is `Fly,' and when you see her play, you will know why," Giuliano said. "She's as quick and as fast as any player on our squad."
Crowson was named Utah's 5A most valuable player and was a first-team all-state selection for Brighton High School, leading the squad to the state championship her senior season.
"Allie plays soccer the way that it was meant to be played - with her feet, head and her heart," Giuliano said. "She is a tenacious and passionate defender who loves the challenge of marking the opponent's best player."
Marquez, a member of the Southern California PDP program which recognizes the top 50 players in the region, played for the SC Blues with Leslie. At Walnut High School, Marquez led the Mustangs to three consecutive CIF titles, while earning third-team all-CIF honors and first-team all-league recognition.
"Lauren is a fast and technically brilliant player who can play at either a defender or midfielder position," Giuliano said.
White, a club teammate with incoming forward Jessica Gordon on the Slammers, will battle for playing time in the back.
"Leslie is one of those players who gets better each and ever time that I see her," Giuliano said. "Her best soccer is definitely ahead of her. She is the tallest and strongest of our recruits, and as she continues to refine her ball work, there is no limit to what she can accomplish."
Williams was a first-team all-CIF performer at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego and a member of the San Diego Surf club team.
"Shayla is the very definition of a quality defender," Giuliano said. "She plays with aggression, is very fast, and she reads the field very well."
Riker, Ryan and sophomore Kristen Seniura could also see playing time in the backfield.
Goalkeepers
The Aztecs return all four of their goalkeepers from a year ago and all could challenge for a staring job, although the job is junior Cat Burson's to lose.
"We feel we have four really good goalkeepers," Giuliano said. "They're better and stronger and have trained well in the offseason. Although Cat is the incumbent, and I know she has worked extremely hard this summer, the competition for that starting job will make it a fun camp."
Burson had a remarkable year in 2005, posting a 5-5-2 record with a 0.95 goals against average, third-lowest in the history of the program. She posted four shutouts with an impressive 84.4 save percentage.
Sophomore Christi Yount, a former "Golden Glove" winner for the Slammers club team, will also compete for playing time after starting 10 contests in the 2005 campaign. Yount went 6-4 with a 1.09 goals against average. Of her six wins, four were shutouts.
"We have a lot of trust in Christi as well," Giuliano said. "She will give Cat some good competition."
Redshirt sophomore Melissa Deckers and redshirt freshman Jill Foss could also contribute for SDSU. Deckers has appeared in three games in her career, while Foss seems to improve each practice.
"We believe that Melissa and Jill can make things interesting," Giuliano said. "We've seen them shine at practice and in spring drills."
The Schedule
Once again, the Aztecs will play one of the toughest schedules on the West Coast. Out of its 19 games, SDSU will play 10 opponents who advanced to the 2005 NCAA soccer tournament.
Seven of the 10 teams will be non-conference games for the Aztecs, including five on the road (Purdue - Aug. 27, UCLA - Sept. 1, UC Riverside - Sept. 10, Pepperdine - Sept. 22, and Stanford - Sept. 24). SDSU will also play host to Cal State Fullerton on Sept. 12 and Creighton on Sept. 15.
"Once again we have one of the toughest schedules around," Giuliano said. "We have been committed since day one to put on as many big-time teams on the schedule as we can find."
The Aztecs open conference play with home games against Air Force (Oct. 6) and UNLV (Oct. 8), before a three-game road trip to Brigham Young (Oct. 12), Wyoming (Oct. 15) and New Mexico (Oct. 19).
Following a home match against Utah on Oct. 22, SDSU will continue its rivalry with a non-conference match at San Diego on Oct. 25. The Aztecs will end their regular season with a trip to TCU on Oct. 28.
"The Mountain West is going to be strong once again," Giuliano said. "We had three teams in the NCAA's last year for the first time ever, and a couple of other teams, us included, could make their case for an invitation. It's going to be a dogfight."
The MWC championships will be played in Salt Lake City, Utah, on the campus of the Utes in early November.