In amateur athletics, the story is familiar. One uber-talented group of seniors grow up together in a program, and just before last call they lift their team to new heights.
The “Great Eight” seniors on the Long Beach State women’s soccer team last year did exactly that, earning a berth in the NCAA’s for the first time in school history. But that was last year, and coach Mauricio Ingrassia knows it takes more than one group of players to build an empire.
“It takes more than one class. This isn’t basketball with five or six guys… soccer is different with scholarships and team size. It takes a Lindsay Bullock and her class, Shawna Gordon and Nicole Hubbard and their class… those seniors last year got it going, but you need a group to step up or you’re not a complete team.”
Just a few minutes spent at a summer two-a-day session and it’s plain to see the 49ers have not suffered a huge drop in talent. But like Ingrassia always says, “it’s not always the best eleven on the field. It’s the eleven with the best chemistry at that time.”
So, with a young team like this, Ingrassia has spent most of the spring and summer looking at player combinations. “It will take time to figure out our identity as a team. Last year we knew who we were… it’s going to take a few games. I was nervous about it in December, but we had a great spring and this team has a fresh new energy… It’s time.”
Time, it seems, has run out on preparation. Long Beach will open the 2009 campaign tomorrow as they welcome Fresno State @ 3pm on George Allan Field. Before the first whistle, here are the top five questions fans will be asking as the 49ers try to make it back up the NCAA mountain, this time without the experienced guides…
1. Where Will The Leadership Come From?
After the season-ending loss to San Diego last year, the team gathered in the locker room on campus. The seniors hugged everyone and exchanged some teary farewells. “After they left, everyone looked around and they were nervous about it,” says Ingrassia. “In the spring we talked a lot about playing like a senior even if you aren’t. You never know when your last game will be. The visual of those seniors leaving the locker room was helpful, and we had a great summer.” Ingrassia says junior midfielder Lindsay Bullock really stepped up in the spring, improved her game, and is becoming a Sheriff (that’s for you Deadwood fans) on the field.
2. What Kind Of Schedule Is This?
In a word: tough. A week after the opener the 49ers will face No. 5 UCLA before heading out on a Midwest/East Coast four-game road trip that includes Top-25 teams like Boston College, Missouri and Harvard. Then less than a month later, the Big West schedule gets underway. “We don’t get the home and away,” says Ingrassia. “In the Big West you get eight games. That’s it. If you get stuck on the road with a bad ref… it’s tough. And anyone can beat anyone on any given night.” A good example of that was last-place Fullerton pushing first-place Long Beach to the brink in the season finale last year. (Click Here For The Full Schedule)
3. Can Anyone Fill The Goal Like Liz?
Liz Ramos finished her record-breaking career at Long Beach State last year, and now there is an open battle for that enormous vacancy. Kaitlyn Gustaves (Jr.), Nicoline Jorgensen (So.), Emily Kingsborough (So.) and Kelsey Welton-Baldwin (Fr.) all wear the long-sleeve goalie jersey, but after fighting for it all spring and summer, it looks like Jorgensen and Kingsborough will share time. Ingrassia is leaning towards starting Kingsborough tomorrow, but Jorgensen made some eyes open and earned some teammate respect with a flurry of great stops in the scrimmage last week.
4. Can The Backline Be Any Better?
Ramos obviously had a vaunted defense in front of her, and like most positions on this team defensive jobs were up for grabs in the summer. Junior Bo Rael has emerged as a natural leader, and Ingrassia thinks the tandem of junior Chantel Hubbard and sophomore Nicole Hubbard can mark anyone they play with season. N. Hubbard will be a valuable weapon coming out of the back as well. She broke a school record at Mayfair High with 144 goals in her career.
5. Yeah Sure, But What About The Middle?
If the defense is going to have any chance of dictating pace this season—like every good Ingrassia team does—it’s going to take some smart play at the midfield. Returning All-Conference pick Bullock will be a major key, and Ingrassia said he was very pleased with her fitness and overall game improvement in the spring. He also said that sophomore Shawna Gordon and junior transfer from Arizona Karina Camacho are as good as you can find. Gordon will not be as physical as Bullock, but she has shown as amazing ability with her first touch in practice. Camacho is still finding her role on the team and space on the field, but Ingrassia is sure she will come on as the season gets longer.