`Dogs Slated For a One Game Weekend

Fresno State soccer is three games away from conference play.

`Dogs Slated For a One Game Weekend

9/10/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Sept. 10, 2014

By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com

Game 5 • Fresno State (1-5-0) vs. Cal State Fullerton (0-4-2)
Friday, Sept. 12, 2014 (7 P.M. PT)
Fresno, Calif. --- Bulldog Stadium
Live Stats: gobulldogs.com

`Dogs Set for Fullerton After two consecutive weekends on the road, the Bulldogs (1-5) look forward to hosting Cal State Fullerton at Bulldog Stadium, Friday at 7 p.m. Fresno State is coming off of a close matchup with No. 16 Santa Clara last Sunday where the `Dogs fell 4-3 in the final minutes of the game. With only one game this week, the Bulldogs will visit Cal Poly next Friday, Sept. 19 before returning back to Bulldog Stadium Sept. 21 to host Sacramento State in what will be the last game before conference starts on Friday, Sept. 26. Fresno State will play its first two conference games of the 2014 season at home against New Mexico and San Diego State.

Head-to-Head Fresno State has previously faced Cal State Fullerton one time during head coach Brian Zwaschka's helm. The last faceoff between the Bulldogs and Fullerton was in Aug. of 2013 at Titan Stadium where the `Dogs fell 1-0. Prior to coach Zwaschka, Fresno State hosted the Titans in 2007 at Bulldog Stadium that resulted in a 3-2 loss.

About the Titans (0-4-2) Cal State Fullerton is in search of their first win with an overall record of 0-4-2 so far in the 2014 season. They have played in over time in five of their first six matches and have only fallen short by one goal each game. The Titans opened season at home with a 1-1 tie to BYU in double overtime and a loss to Michigan State, 1-0. In their second consecutive weekend at home Fullerton fell to both Denver and Georgia, 2-1. The Titans traveled to Oregon last weekend where they picked up a draw to Oregon State, 0-0 (2OT), and a 2-1 loss to Oregon. Cal State Fullerton is led by head coach Demian Brown in his eighth season at the helm of the women's soccer program. Brown is assisted by Michael Thomas (1st season), Stacey Fox in her second season with the Titans and volunteer assistant coach Kellan Wilson.

Bulldog Coaches Brian Zwaschka has entered his sixth season as the Bulldogs head soccer coach, assisted by goalie specialist Lauren McAdam and first season Sean Steele. Reigning Mountain West Coach of the Year, Zwaschka led the `Dogs to a second place conference finish in 2013 with an overall record of 10-8-2 and 7-2-1 in MW play.

Bingham leads the `Dogs Senior Jaycee Bingham currently holds the highest number of goals scored for Fresno State this season with one in the home opener against Eastern Washington, another against Drake University and two in the Bulldogs last match up with No. 16 Santa Clara. Bingham also leads the team in shot attempts with 19 of 43 as well as goal shots with 10 out of the team's total of 20.

MW Rankings Entering their third season in the Mountain West, Fresno State was chosen to finish sixth with 73 points in the Mountain West Preseason Coaches' Poll. Of the 12 collegiate programs in the running, San Diego State was favored to win the Mountain West regular-season title (115 points) by the panel of MW head soccer coaches. The conference welcomes Colorado College to the 2014 season, and the Tigers finished second in the standings with 112 points and five first-place votes. In addition to the first-place Aztecs and second-place Tigers, Boise State, New Mexico and Utah State were picked to place above Fresno State with a total of only 42 points separating the top half of the poll. Finishing four places above their predicted poll position, the Bulldogs stood second in the league at the conclusion of their 2013 regular season.

Returning Class With only one true senior on the squad, the Fresno State coaching staff is relying heavily on upperclassman to step into leadership positions. Jaycee Bingham is one of 12 Bulldog returners, but at the start of her fourth season at Fresno State she is placed into a headship role, as the only true senior on the team. In addition to Bingham, the squad welcomes back Sam Brechmann, Joana Lopez, Alyssa Cruz, Fanny Johansson, Dani Rodrigues, Alyssa Holsworth, Rianna Cota, Amanda Nunes, Angie Weiner, sophomore goal keeper Alyssa Wilson and Mountain West Freshman of the Year Ariana Holmes as they head into their 2014 season.

Newcomers The 2014 Fresno State soccer roster is made up of 23 total players, in which 11 of them are new to the squad. Of the group of incoming freshmen, 10 of them come from various cities within California including Kacy Dunn from Clovis, Alissa Pham from Morgan Hill, Myra Delgadillo from Union City, Peyton Cline from Woodland, Maria Gomez from Los Angeles, Julia Campos from Dinuba, Miranda Rudolph from Fresno, Ashari Hines from Sacramento, Sara Jo Ciapponi from Alameda and Carly Bracken from Granada Hills. In addition to Johansson, freshman Domenique Banta is the second individual on the team from out of state, joining the squad from Meridian, Idaho. This large group of freshmen not only brings new talent but also adds depth as the `Dogs continue their season under head coach Brian Zwaschka.