August 18, 2005

Women’s Soccer:

Vikings open season at No. 3 in NSCAA/adidas national rankings

The Long Beach City College women’s soccer team begins the 2005 season in an unfamiliar position. For the past two years, the Vikings entered the season as the top ranked team in the nation.

But after failing to capture the state championship for the first time in five years last December, the Vikings will have to make their way back to the top. LBCC is ranked No. 3 in the National Soccer Coaches Associations of America (NSCAA)/adidas Junior College Division III Preseason National Rankings, which were released earlier this week.

Despite being the nation’s only undefeated team with a 22-0-1 overall record in 2004, Long Beach closed the season ranked No. 5 in last year’s final poll.

LBCC held the top spot for the entire 2004 regular season but dropped to No. 5 after playing American River College to a 0-0 tie in the state championship semifinals. After 120 minutes of scoreless soccer, American River beat Long Beach 5-4 in a penalty kick shootout to eliminate the Vikings from the tournament.

Defending NJCAA national champion Richland College of Texas opens the year ranked No. 1, with nearby Cypress College, LBCC, Mohawk Valley College of New York, and American River rounding out the top five.

Alex Camargo returns for his second year as co-head coach for LBCC and shares duties with new co-head coach Melissa Myers. Seven sophomores are back from last year’s state final-four squad.

Long Beach opens up the 2005 season at Orange Coast College on August 28 at 5pm. The Vikings carry a 75-game unbeaten streak into that contest. LBCC plays its first home game on September 6 at 2 pm against Saddleback College.

NSCAA/adidas JC Division III
2005 preseason National Rankings
(2004 Final Record and Rank Shown)

No. College W-L-T Prev.
1. Richland (TX) 17-3-1 1
2. Cypress 22-1-1 2
3. LONG BEACH 20-0-1 5
4. Mohawk Valley (NY) 19-2-1 4

5. American River 19-2-3 3
6. Camden County (NJ) 13-2-1 6
7. West Valley 15-3-1 7
8. Herkimer (NY) 17-2-0 8
9. Santiago Canyon 18-2-2 9
10. Sierra 17-1-2 10
11. Nassau (NY) 9-4-1 16
12. Fresno 17-4-1 12
13. DuPage (IL) 18-2-0 11
14. San Diego Mesa 16-2-3 15
15. Springfield Tech (MA) 12-8-0 13
16. Ventura 14-4-2 NR
17. Cedar Valley (TX) 11-8-0 20
18. Santa Rosa 16-4-1 NR
19. Brookdale (NJ) 9-7-0 18
20. Broome (NY) 15-4-1 19