2005 NATIONAL & STATE CHAMPIONS

Final National Rankings

December 13, 2005

Women’s Soccer:
Long Beach returns to the top, voted No. 1 in final national rankings

Just two days after Long Beach City College defeated Cypress College 2-0 in the championship game of the 2005 state tournament, the Vikings have achieved their ultimate goal.

On Tuesday, Long Beach was listed as the No. 1 team in the final National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas JC Division III (non-scholarship schools) National Rankings.

The honor marks LBCC’s third national championship over the past four seasons. Long Beach was ranked No. 1 during back-to-back seasons in 2002 and 2003, but ended 2004 ranked No. 5 after failing to advance to the state championship game.

“This team earned it,” said second-year LBCC co-head coach Alex Camargo on the national championship. “It’s a great way to cap a great season. We felt pretty good about our chances after playing so well in the playoffs.”

Long Beach closed the season with a 25-1-3 overall record. It’s lone loss came in its final regular season game, a 4-2 setback at home to Pasadena City College.

But the Vikings bounced back from the loss even more focused on its goal. LBCC outscored its opponents by a 16-1 margin over its five postseason games on the way to winning its state-record sixth overall California Community College championship.

“The loss really woke the team up,” Camargo said. “If it was going to happen, that was probably the best time because they came out and played even more determined and with a lot more heart in the playoffs.”

Long Beach also captured its sixth straight and seventh overall South Coast Conference title this season with a 10-1-1 mark.

Looking towards 2006, the Vikings should return seven players from this year’s squad, including SCC Player of the Year, Shaneka Gordon.