Matador Coaches Develop an Attitude

Cal State Northridge women’s soccer coach Brian Wiesner said the school’s recent funding woes concerning athletics have definitely had an impact on him and his Matador peers.

“This fall everybody’s a little more sensitive around campus,” Wiesner said. “As a group the coaches want to do well. We’re tired of the press we’ve gotten and we want to get a positive spin coming from some of the things we do.”

But Wiesner, whose program has been richly funded and is beginning its third season, said the tenuous existence of the men’s baseball, soccer, volleyball and swimming teams has not translated to higher expectations for his squad from Athletic Director Paul Bubb.

“We’re not getting undue administrative pressure to do this or do that,” Wiesner said. “As long as we get people noticing us because we’re playing hard and not being pushovers, I think we’re fine.”

Shortfall: In the 1997 Northwestern University media guide, former Montclair Prep football and basketball standout Anwawn Jones is asked what he would go back and do over in his life.

Jones’ response: “Grow to be [6 feet 11] and play pro basketball.”

Jones, a linebacker, is 6-4, 212 pounds and was one of only two Wildcat freshmen to play last season.

Tender in goal: When touted goalkeeping recruit Nikki Thomas didn’t report to preseason practice with the Cal State Northridge women’s soccer team, the senior transfer from Detroit Mercy left the Matadors thin at a critical position.

Thomas was expected to be the starter and one of five goalkeepers on the team, but for a variety of reasons only sophomore Tawni Takagi and freshman Kelly MacGuann are on the roster.

Takagi will start for the second straight season and the former Chatsworth High player would at first glance seem more than adequate after being the 1996 NCAA West Region save leader.

Truth be told, Takagi’s saves were high because Northridge allowed an average of 15.2 shots and 2.7 goals per match.

Without significant improvement from the defense or Takagi, who has shown a tendency to allow soft goals, those numbers could be high again in 1997.

“Tawni was in a tough situation last year,” Wiesner said. “She was No. 1 by coincidence, not by having earned the position.

“You want players to be pushed, to make each other better and Tawni didn’t have that advantage last season.”