Fresno State Athletics
`Dogs Soak Up NCAA Experience
11/13/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Nov. 13, 2008
LOS ANGELES - Fresno State soccer has turned a 3-7 start to their season into an appearance at the NCAA Tournament after beating Utah State in double overtime of the WAC tournament championship last weekend in Reno, Nev.
The team left around 8:30 on Thursday morning and stopped for lunch in Valencia, Calif. The `Dogs arrived on the UCLA campus around 1:30 about an hour early for practice. The team got the chance to check out the UCLA campus and wonder around seeing the sights. Several players ran into friends from home, who attends UCLA.
The team hit the field around 2:30 for an hour long practice.
The Bulldogs have made two appearances in the tournament, one back in 1999 and again in 2005. Seniors Ali Sill, Nicole Gutierrez, and Selena Gill were freshmen when the `Dogs made their last post season run.
The second half of the season the `Dogs have gone 9-1-2 and won the last five games. The defense has allowed only two goals since the beginning of the conference play.
Several players were asked: "What are you most excited about playing in the NCAA Tournament?"
Selena Gill: "Being able to have the opportunity to play good teams that are ranked."
Megan Ashjian: "Getting to play the team that is ranked No. 2 in the country."
Nicole Duff: "It is an amazing experience and an honor to represent Fresno State. It is going to be fun playing with the some of the best schools in the country. "
Ali Sill: "It is exciting to know that we are among the top 64 teams in the nation, it is really exciting to be playing."
The Bulldogs face No. 2 seeded UCLA in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament Nov. 14 at 5:30 at Drake Stadium.
