The `Dogs Stand One Weekend Shy of Conference Play

Fresno State hosts Sacramento State Sunday at Bulldog Stadium

The `Dogs Stand One Weekend Shy of Conference Play

9/17/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Sept. 17, 2014

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

Game 8 • Fresno State (1-6-0) vs. Cal Poly (3-4-0
Friday, Sept. 19, 2014 (5 P.M. PT)
San Luis Obispo, Calif. --- Alex G. Spanos Stadium
Live Stats: gopoly.com

Game 9 • Fresno State (1-6-0) vs. Sacramento State (4-3-0)
Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014 (6 P.M. PT)
Fresno, Calif. --- Bulldog Stadium
Live Stats: gobulldogs.com

Final Weekend before Conference Play With only one weekend left before conference play, the `Dogs are set to travel to Cal Poly (3-4-0) to take on the Mustangs Friday, Sept. 19 at the Alex G. Spanos Stadium with a slated 5 p.m. kickoff. The Bulldogs will return home for Sunday's matchup against the Sacramento State (4-3-0) Hornets at 6 p.m. Sunday's game will mark the end of non-conference play for Fresno State as they will begin Mountain West play on Friday, Sept. 26 at Bulldog Stadium taking on New Mexico followed with San Diego State on Sunday, Sept. 28.

About the Mustangs (3-4-0/-0-0-0 Big West) Cal Poly is four games shy of conference play for the Big West and currently holds an overall record of 3-4-0. The Mustangs found success against Lamar, San Jose State and Oral Roberts but fell to Cal, Pepperdine, Florida Atlantic and Oklahoma State. Fresno State will mark the third game played at Alex G. Spanos Stadium this season for Cal Poly. A former Mustang himself, Alex Crozier is in his 23rd year as head coach and currently stands as the first and only coach since Cal Poly began playing at the intercollegiate level in 1992. Coach Cozier led the Mustangs to an overall record of 11-7-1 as well as becoming the 2013 Big West Champions with a 7-1-0 record in conference play.

About the Hornets (4-3-0/0-0-0 Big Sky) Sacramento State currently holds a 4-3 overall record under eighth-year head coach Randy Dedini. The team holds a 3-2 winning record at home defeating Pacific, Bakersfield and Canisius at Hornet Stadium. Senior forward Kristen Bridges leads Sacramento State with the most goals scored (2) and shots on goal with 12 in the total of seven games played. Coach Dedini is assisted by Marisha Schumacher-Hodge in her second season with the Hornets as well as Sac State native, Jenny Lawrence who is currently in her first season as the goalkeepers coach.

Head-to-Head Cal Poly has the upper hand all-time with a 8-5-0 lead over the Bulldogs. The `Dogs last faced the Mustangs at Bulldog Stadium on Sept. 23, 2012 resulting in a 2-1 win for Fresno State. The Bulldogs lead Sacramento State with a 10-5-1 series, recording a 2-2 (2OT) tie with the Hornets in their last matchup in 2013.

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 (4) for Fresno State this season with one in the home opener against Eastern Washington, another against Drake University and two in the Bulldogs match up with No. 16 Santa Clara. Bingham also leads the team in shot attempts with 20 of 49 as well as goal shots with 10 out of the team's total of 21.

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 Phamfrom Morgan Hill, Myra Delgadillo from Union City, Peyton Cline from Woodland, Maria Gomez from Los Angeles, Julia Camposfrom Dinuba, Miranda Rudolph from Fresno, Ashari Hines from Sacramento, Sara Jo Ciapponi from Alameda and Carly Brackenfrom 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.