Report by LBCC’s Chris Ruiz

With temperatures still in the 80s in Long Beach, the crisp cool air of the fall seems like months away. But look at a calendar at Long Beach City College and one will see the fall sports schedule gets underway this week.

Soccer takes center stage opening week as the men start play on Tuesday (Aug. 25) with a 3 pm scrimmage against Hope International University.

Women’s soccer officially gets things going with a 3 pm home match on Friday (Aug. 28) against Saddleback College. The men hit the road on Friday with their season-opener at College of the Desert at 5 pm.

Co-head coaches Cameron Beaulac and Pat Noyes return for their sixth season with the men. LBCC has qualified for the Southern California Regional Playoffs in each of their five seasons.

Last year, the Vikings compiled a 15-5-6 overall record and were fourth in the highly competitive South Coast Conference at 7-4-3. Long Beach’s season came to a close with a 2-0 second-round playoff loss at Mt. San Antonio.

On the women’s side, co-head coaches Alex Camargo and Melissa Douglas also return. Camargo is now in his sixth season, while Douglas is back for her fifth. Long Beach made its ninth consecutive postseason appearance last season.

The Vikings compiled a 13-7-4 overall record and went 7-2-3 in the SCC to finish in second place. Long Beach fell 4-1 at Cuyamaca College in its opening-round playoff game to close 2008.