Kicking It Into High Gear

The challenges facing the Cal State Northridge women’s soccer team as it embarks on its second season are no longer quite so modest.

“I only had three goals last season,” Coach Brian Wiesner said. “The first was just to get a team in place. The second was to try and not be embarrassed on the field and the third was to get somebody to come and watch us play.”

Northridge far exceeded those hopes. The Matadors were a respectable 8-9-3 as an NCAA Division I independent, a status they maintain for at least one more season. The Big Sky Conference is expected to sanction women’s soccer next year.

Naturally, there have been growing pains, but with a recruiting class led by three junior college transfers, three freshmen and a basketball player, Wiesner dreams of landing an at-large berth in the 32-team NCAA tournament.

But to reach the postseason the Matadors must navigate a grueling schedule that includes games against five Pacific-10 Conference teams.

“I’m positive we’ll be a more talented team but this schedule is easily twice as difficult, so in the end we may not look better on paper,” Wiesner said.

An indication of Northridge’s improved talent is the presence of eight former sweepers, including six newcomers.

The sweeper is the defender closest to the goalkeeper and is often a team’s best all-around player.

“There’s only one sweeper on a team, so if you’re it you’re good,” Wiesner said. “You have to have a good right foot, a good left foot and a lot of speed.”

Rhiannon Clow, a sweeper who has been converted to forward, agrees with her coach.

“Sweepers have to see the game very well,” said Clow, a junior transfer from Santa Rosa Junior College. “People think it’s not a strong position because you’re not up front scoring goals and getting the glory. But you must be capable of controlling the ball under pressure and distributing it.”

Kristi Tynan, a junior transfer from El Camino College, probably will be the Matadors’ sweeper. Marrica Pichaikul, formerly of Grant High and Northridge’s starting sweeper last year, is among those who will have to adapt to new positions.

“I noticed [Wiesner] was recruiting a lot of sweepers and it bothered me at first,” said Pichaikul, who will play center forward. “But I talked with him about it and wherever he puts me I’ll do my best.”

Northridge outshot and outscored opponents last season while maintaining a steady defense. However, the Matadors did not win any of their five overtime games and sputtered on offense after star midfielder Rachel Gagliano suffered an ankle injury.

To boost scoring, Wiesner has brought in touted forwards Clow and Marilyn Huschka, another junior transfer from El Camino. They will flank Pichaikul or sophomore Heather Schou, a converted goalkeeper who scored on five of her nine shots last season.

Sophomore Amy Gill will start at attacking midfielder, with sophomore Rosana Mellon on her left and freshman Janay Duran or sophomore Nancy James on her right. Junior Pam Karbowski, a shooting guard on the Northridge women’s basketball team, will start at defensive midfielder.

Tynan likely will be the sweeper and freshmen Jera Sanneman and Zulma Leiva are the outside fullbacks. Tawni Takagi is the starting goalkeeper after top recruit Stacie Carlini quit the team last week.