2003 SEASON
PREVIEW Young Titans Look to Top of Big West
Conference Aug. 27, 2003 – Fullerton, Calif.
The Cal State Fullerton women’s soccer team returns to the
pitch in 2003 looking to regain the form that led the Titans to their
first-ever Big West Conference title and NCAA Tournament appeareance just
two years ago.
“When you get right down to it we are still a very young team,”
said third-year Head Coach Ali Khosroshahin, who led the Titans to their
first-ever national ranking in 2002 and back-to-back 10-win seasons for
the first time since 1995-96.
“We have just four upperclassmen returning and 10 sophomores who
have just a year under their belt, so gaining experience and learning
the system is going to be key to our success this year.
Khosroshahin returns 14 letterwinners from last year’s team with
only two seniors on the roster. The Titans posted a 12-5-1 overall record
in 2002 and finished third in the conference with a 6-3 mark in a race
which went down to the final few matches.
While the lack of experience may be a concern (only six upperclassmen
are listed on the roster – five of those with Division I experience),
the returning sophomores were ranked as one of the top recruiting classes
in the nation as freshmen in 2002, constantly exceeding rookie-year expectations.
Khosroshahin will be able to rely on an intact offense that returns four
of its top six scorers – three of those members of that vaunted freshman
class.
Sophomore Kandace Wilson was the leading scorer last year, and will be
looked upon to pace the team once again in 2003. One of the quickest players
on the field, Wilson led the team with seven goals and three assists (17
points). She ranked among Big West leaders in four categories, including
points, points per match (0.94), goals and goals per match (0.39).
Junior Kellie Cox, a first-team all-conference selection as a freshman
(eight goals, seven assists), is hoping a number change will kick start
her third season in a Titan uniform. Cox, who switched from No. 19 to
No. 10, fell victim to the infamous “sophomore slump,” netting
just three goals and three assists (nine points) to finish fourth on the
team in scoring.
Sophomores Allison Bowman and Desiree Flint also proved to be offensive
threats throughout the year, finishing fifth and sixth on the team in
scoring.
Bowman appeared in all 18 matches for the Titans, making 14 starts, finding
the back of the net three times (including twice against Cal State Northridge)
and assisting on two others.
Flint made just two starts on the year, but was an excellent mid-match
replacement, scoring the game-winner against Loyola College and in games
against Long Beach State and UC Irvine.
Senior Nadia Hernandez and sophomores Erica Pryor and Erin Shelton were
valuable assets for the Titans off the bench and should see significant
time in the lineup for Fullerton in 2003.
Hernandez, who spent time in the summer playing with the Mexican Women’s
National Team, appeared in 16 matches for the Titans, notching a pair
of assists.
Pryor and Shelton also contributed to the Titans’ offensive success,
as Pryor scored her first career goal in a win over UC Irvine and Shelton
ranked among Big West Conference leaders with four assists.
The defense is in good hands, anchored by junior Vanessa Valentine and
the 2002 Big West Freshman of the Year, goalkeeper Karen Bardsley.
Valentine has been a part of two record-setting defensive units in her
career with the Titans as Fullerton has set school records for fewest
goals allowed in 2001 and 2002. She also notched her first career points
last year, scoring a goal against Idaho and assisting on two others.
Sophomores Marlene Sandoval, Paige Morgan, and Emmy Dokulil were also
members of that record-setting defense last year and will battle for starting
time on the backline.
All three players showed some offensive skills as well, as Dokulil had
a goal and an assist, Sandoval scored her first career goal against San
Diego State (also the game-winner), and Morgan notched her first career
assist.
Bardsley was one of the country’s best young keepers last season,
earning Freshman All-America, and all-region honors from Soccer Buzz and
all-region honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Also returning in net for the Titans is senior keeper Laura Janke, who
missed all but three matches last year after suffering a pair of concussions
in the span of a year. Janke was an all-conference performer as a sophomore
in 2001, earning honorable mention honors.
Cal State Fullerton welcomes nine newcomers to the roster this year, including
three transfers.
“This group of newcomers immediately gives us depth on the bench,”
Khosroshahin said. “One or two of our newcomers will have a good
chance of cracking the starting lineup with the rest challenging our returning
players for their spots by midseason.
Sophomore Marie Pedersen was a member of USC’s NCAA Tournament team
last year as a defender while junior Amy Stanley returns to Division I
soccer after playing her freshman year at Nevada.
Junior Janet Acevedo slips on a Titan uniform after spending the last
two years at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, Calif.
Freshman Jennifer Whitaker comes to Southern California as a rare out-of-state
player for the Titans. Whitaker finished her high-school career with 83
goals and 64 assists.
There will be a sister act on the field for the Titans for the first time
in the history of the program as freshman defender Erica Janke joins her
sister, Laura, on the squad.
Three-time All-Palomar League selection Kate Brunet, two-time All-CIF
defender Allyson Lem and sophomore walk-on Sereena Warino, who competed
for the Titans’ cross country team as a freshman, will also battle
for playing time in 2003.
The road to a second Big West Conference championship and NCAA Tournament
berth will be littered with challenges as the Titans’ 2003 schedule
will be among the toughest in the nation this season.
“This is probably the toughest schedule, match-for-match, that we
have ever had in the history of the program,” Khosroshahin said.
“Hopefully we can learn a lot from these matches, gain much-needed
experience, and let the wins and losses fall where they may.”
Fullerton will battle five teams which advanced to the NCAA Tournament
in 2002, including defending national champion Portland (Sept. 13), NCAA
runner-up Santa Clara (Oct. 10) and Pepperdine (Oct. 3), which advanced
to the third round.
Atlantic Coast Conference power Clemson, which was eliminated in the first
round of last year’s NCAAs, will also make the trip west for a Sept.
19 clash, while the Titans will head north to San Luis Obispo to take
on the defending Big West champion Cal Poly Mustangs on Oct. 12.
Cal State Fullerton will also have to compete against a difficult Big
West schedule which opens on Sept. 26 on the road at conference runner-up
UC Santa Barbara.
Home games against rivals Pacific, Cal State Northridge, Long Beach State
and UC Irvine also await the Titans as does the Big West Conference Tournament,
which will feature the top four teams in the league battling it out at
Fullerton’s Titan Stadium for the Big West’s automatic berth
into the NCAA Tournament.
