The No. 3 UCSD women’s soccer team has won two of the last three NCAA Division II National Championships, and they begin the long road towards another when the California Collegiate Athletic Association playoffs begin Nov. 7 in Carson, Calif. The Tritons have already claimed the CCAA South Division crown.
After not playing a single game in 20 days because of postponements due to the Southern California fires, the Tritons will now play almost one game every 36 hours, starting with a match against Sonoma State. After handing Grand Canyon a 14-0 loss on Nov. 1, UCSD beat Cal State San Bernardino Nov. 3 in a make-up game. They faced Cal Poly Pomona in another make-up Nov. 5 at home, but lost 2-1.
If the Tritons win their opener against Sonoma State, they will play in the CCAA championship game on Nov. 9.
UCSD will play five matches in the first 10 days of November if they make the NCAA finals. In addition, the Tritons clinched a berth in the NCAA playoffs, which begin on Nov. 15.
“”Our fitness and our toughness will be sorely tested by the end of this week,”” UCSD head coach Brian McManus said.
UCSD had the option of resting some players in their make-up game against Cal Poly Pomona, but with home-field advantage for the NCAA Regionals hanging in the balance, they didn’t take any chances.
Although the match had no playoff implications to UCSD, the Tritons went into the game ready to oust their division rival.
“”For the seniors, at least, they are our biggest rivals,”” senior co-captain Megan Mendoza said. “”We would love to knock them out of the playoffs.””
However, the Triton soccer team was unable to keep Cal Poly Pomona out of the playoffs in their 2-1 loss. With this win, Cal Poly Pomona will play Cal State Dominguez Hills on Nov. 7.
Despite the make-up games and the rigorous scheduling, McManus thinks it will be an “”anything goes”” playoffs.
“”Once you get there, anything can happen, as we’ve seen in the past. This year’s team is great, like past years’, but for different reasons,”” McManus said. “”We’re well-balanced and our skill level is very good.””
UCSD also boasts nine seniors, seven of which have already won NCAA titles. They remember the seniors of years past walking away with rings.
“”You can’t go out any better,”” senior co-captain Kristin Jones said. “”We saw it happen sophomore year and would love to do the same.””
Senior Christine Wensel agreed.
“”This championship would definitely be sweeter than the others if we can leave on that note,”” Wensel said. “”It couldn’t be more perfect.””
Indeed, the seniors playing in their final games will have a vital role, adding the experience and the confidence needed to go all the way. Yet the freshmen will prove no less important.
“”This could be the best freshmen class I’ve seen in the four years I’ve been here,”” said Jones, who herself was a member of the freshmen squad that helped lead UCSD to their first national title. “”They have the potential to win three more [championships] in a row.””
Wensel expressed a similar sentiment.
“”The freshmen are playing just as hard and want it just as much as the seniors,”” Wensel said.
With a strong freshman class, experienced seniors, and other integral starters such as sophomores Heather Szafraniec and Lindsey Treankler, UCSD is poised for another title run.
“”It’s a total team effort,”” Jones said. “”The statistics show we don’t have just one weapon.””
The overall balance is seen on offense and defense, but also in goal. UCSD boasts three seasoned goalies in junior Jamie Lautenschleger, sophomore Alyson Berger and senior Kami Poma. Each member of the trio has logged serious minutes during the 2003 campaign. With a laborious playoff schedule ahead, the depth of UCSD at every position could prove the difference. The only thing left is execution and nerves.
“”I’m a little nervous,”” freshman Kelly Cochran said. “”I don’t know what to expect.””
With the defending Division II NCAA champions Christian Brothers lurking, plus perennial powerhouses Northern Kentucky and Franklin Pierce looking to make their way to the finals, Cochran feels a little apprehensive. However, the Tritons are ready to clinch another title.
Mendoza summed up the players’ feelings in one simple sentence. “”This year, we are absolutely out for redemption,”” she said.
