Toros Men Ranked 5th, Women 19th in NSCAA/adidas Pre-Season Soccer Polls
CSUDH only CCAA school with both programs ranked in top 25 entering 2006 season
August 17, 2006

Carson, CA -- On the heels of claiming the 2005 NCAA Far West Region title and ending the year with an overall record of 17-5-2, the Cal State Dominguez Hills men’s soccer team will begin the season as No. 5-ranked team in the country, it was announced earlier by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America /adidas. Following suit, the women’s team, which ended last year at 14-7-2, enters 2006 in the No. 19 position.

Despite losing seven starters and 10 letter-winners from last year’s title team, which included All-American Kei Kamara and CSUDH’s all-time career points leader in Francisco Corona, the 2006 squad returns All-CCAA selections in senior goalkeeper Kyle Polak (Huntington Beach, CA/CS Fullerton) and senior midfielder Jesse Graham (San Diego, CA/Pt. Loma HS), along with junior forward Sammy Rivas (Long Beach, CA/CS Fullerton), who notched six goals and four assists in his first campaign in Cardinal & Gold. Additionally, the Toros added LMU transfer LJ Reinhardt (Palos Verdes Estates, CA/LMU) to help solidify its back line, and speedsters Julio Madrigal (Inglewood, CA/LA Harbor College) and Scott Mariano (Artesia, CA/Gahr HS) up front.

Defending men’s champion Fort Lewis, which bested the Toros in the NCAA quarterfinal match-up last season, enters 2006 as the NSCAA/adidas preseason top pick, with Seattle Pacific’s Falcons landing in the No. 9 slot. At No. 17, defending CCAA Champion Sonoma State joins the Toros as the only other CCAA school in the top 25.

The women return two-time 1st-team All-Region selection in senior Rachele McDonald (Ventura, CA/Ventura College), along with a talented quartet of juniors in 2nd-team All-CCAA selection Corrie Hirokawa (Torrance, CA/North Torrance HS), 3rd-team All-CCAA honoree Sandy Lloyd (Fountain Valley, CA/Fountain Valley HS), Fawna Waldo (Lakewood, CA/Mayfair HS), and Amy Livergood (Torrance, CA/North Torrance HS), along with stellar sophomore forward Kristen Boskovich (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA/Peninsula HS), also a 3rd-team All-CCAA recipient. Additionally, the 2006 Toros welcome two goalkeepers who will look to improve upon last season’s efforts that saw CSUDH notch six shutouts and hold its opponents to just a single goal in seven other contests.

The University of Nebraska-Omaha begins 2006 as the top-ranked team after handing SPU its only loss in the 2005 National Championship game, with the Falcons right behind at No. 2. CCAA Champion UC San Diego comes in at No. 10, while Chico State enters at No. 25.

Both teams kick off their regular seasons in the great northwest on Tuesday, August 29, taking on Western Washington, Seattle Pacific and Seattle University in a span of five days, before Grand Canyon visits Carson for the teams’ respective home openers in Toro Stadium on Tuesday, September 5.