CSUMB Sports

Fall sports have come to a close for the Otters and spring sports are already at the helm. Sports are a vital component of the college experience. Attending home games gives students a fun and exciting way to express school spirit.

Home games are an athletes chance to go out and perform for their fellow peers as well as a chance for students to support student athletes and the hard work they put in. As repayment for the support at home games, CSUMB teams boast a far greater record on their home turf.

The men’s soccer team had a 5-3-1 home record, finishing with an impressive 2-0 victory over California State University Dominguez Hills. Midfielder Max Brixey, Junior, from Truckee, CA had a goal and an assist in the win. Brixey also led the team in points (15), assists (5), shots on goal (.455%), goals (5), and game winning goals (3).

The women’s soccer team did not fare as well on CSUMB’s home field, but came away with three away wins including their decisive 4-1 opening win against William Jessup University. Marlina Massagli scored two goals in the victory, Massagli led the team in points (6), shots on goal (.655%), goals (3), shots (29), and tied Hannah Cobb and Natalie Argueta with one game-winning goal.

The volleyball team finished the season with a very solid home record of 8-6 giving our home fans four 3-0 home shutout wins against William Jessup University, California State University Dominguez Hills (2), and California State University Stanislaus. Rhean Fall led the team with 399.5 points and 4.25 points per set. Melanie Lashbrook was a dominant blocker leading the team with 77 and .90 per set.

The Cross Country team had a successful season. Their two best outings came at the Humboldt Cross Country Festival on and the Sonoma State Invitational. At Humboldt the men placed third and the women finished second place. Both teams place second at the Sonoma State Invitational highlighted by Piper Delaney’s (Junior) third place finish with a time of 22:35 in the 6k run, a personal best, for the women’s team. Cameron Cruse set a school record of 26:40 on the 8k run for the men’s team.

The Men and Women’s Golf teams ventured as far as Waikoloa, Hawaii to participate at the Dennis Rose Invitational. The men’s team tied for fourth place and the women’s team came away with second place. Courtney Soekland, Senior, of the women’s team was the best player in the 54-hole tournament. The only player in the red, she finished three under par (207). CSUMB’s Audra Kepler, Sophomore, Elisse Van Duesen, Junior, and Melissa Conroy, Junior, finished among the top twenty.

The Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams began their seasons in November. The men’s team got off to a rough 1-3 start including a 59-74 loss to Humboldt State in the Conference Opener on Friday, December 2, 2011. However they came roaring back the next night against Sonoma State University in a thrilling 80-72 overtime victory.

Guard Brandon Ward, Junior, answered a request from his coach to be more of a factor on the offensive side of the ball with a career-high 23 points, none more important than a layup making it a two-score game for Sonoma with one minute left in overtime. Forward Derrick Anderson, Junior, posted his first career double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds.

The women’s team is riding a 4-1 record and a two game winning streak with a 67-60 win over Humboldt State University in the Conference Opener and an intense 64-59 victory over Sonoma State in overtime. Against Humboldt, Guard Holly Holcomb, Junior, started off the game hot with two quick three pointers and Brandi Stephens posted a career-high 22 points only to break it the next night with 25 points and a perfect 11-11 free throws against Sonoma. Stephens was named California Collegiate Athletic Associations (CCAA) Player of the Week.

Fans were in great attendance in the Conference Opener and against Sonoma. The band was tooting their horns, the Otter Dance Team was shaking it, and the crowd was lively, cheering for the Otters and jeering the opposing team giving the athletes some serious home-field advantage.