Released by Chris Ruiz - Long Beach City College Sports Information Specialist, (562) 938-4243

December 13, 2002

To: Sports Desk
Contact: Chris Ruiz, LBCC Sports Information Specialist

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Women's Soccer: Long Beach City College voted No. 1 team in the nation

The final goal of the 2002 season has been achieved.

Head coach Mauricio Ingrassia's Long Beach City College Vikings have been voted No. 1 in the final National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas national rankings. LBCC shares the national honor with the NJCAA's Community College of Rhode Island.

Led by NSCAA/adidas National Junior College Player of the Year Kim Jents and second-team All-American goal keeper Ashley DeAlejandro, the Vikings closed the season with their best ever record at 24-0-1. Just last Sunday, LBCC defeated Cypress College 2-1 to win its third straight and state-record fourth overall California Community College championship.

"I am extremely proud of my team and the program right now," Ingrassia said. "The 2002 team may have been voted No. 1, but the entire program, including our three past state championship teams, helped us earn this honor."

"I'm excited for my players and the rest of my staff," he added. "When we lost our defense last year to graduation, I don't think anyone thought we could come back and win the state title again. This year's team stepped it up when they had to and battled back countless times. This team may have been freshman dominated, but they played with the maturity and experience of players beyond their years. We had some great individual and team efforts this year. The hard work paid off."

The 2002 Vikings are the first women's team in LBCC history to earn a No. 1 final national ranking. Prior to this season, Long Beach had finished No. 2 in the NSCAA/adidas rankings in 1997 and 2001.

NSCAA/adidas JC Women's Soccer
Final National Rankings
No. School Record Prev.
1. LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE 24-0-1 2
CC of Rhode Island 22-0-0 1
3. Cypress College (CA) 24-1-1 3
4. Sierra College (CA) 20-1-4 NR
5. Monroe CC (NY) 18-4-0 7
6. Dixie State College (UT)22-4-0 5
7. Santa Rosa JC (CA) 19-4-2 6
8. Young Harris College (GA)19-4-2 NR
9. St. Louis CC - Meramec 17-4-1 NR
10. Johnson County CC (KS) 18-0-2 9
11. Hinds CC (Miss.) 17-1-0 4
12. Orange Coast College (CA)21-2-2 8
13. Harper College (IL) 24-3-0 14
14. Los Angeles Pierce College 20-2-3 NR
15. Mesa CC (AZ) 18-4-0 10