Publication Date: Friday, October 28, 2005
MENLO COLLEGE
Women's soccer wins its first title
Women's soccer wins its first title
(October 28, 2005) Ex-Gunn coach leads Oaks to top seed for CalPac playoffs
by Rick Eymer
The Menlo College women's soccer team completed its remarkable turnaround on Wednesday, clinching its first ever California Pacific Conference championship with a 4-0 victory over visiting Simpson College.
The Oaks (5-0, 12-4-1) have one conference match remaining, a home contest against William Jessup on Saturday at 4 p.m., but they own all the tiebreakers and will enter the Cal Pac playoffs, which begin on Tuesday, as the top seed.
In 2002, Menlo lost all 17 matches it played, and were outscored 157-7. The next season former Gunn High women's soccer coach Owen Flannery took over at Menlo, and the winning ways began.
"It's amazing that we've gone from last to first place in only three seasons and it's an honor to be the Cal Pac champions," Flannery said. "Anytime a team makes that kind of jump, you're thankful to all of the players involved, especially the ones who took a chance on us when we weren't a winner and helped make us a champion."
Senior Ja'Net Lawrence, who played for Flannery at Gunn, has been an important part of the Oaks' success. On Wednesday she recorded a goal and two assists.
Molly Flanagan, Rachel Anden and Laurin Daniels also scored for Menlo, which is 30-20-4 under Flannery.
In a nonconference match on Monday, Katy Pryde scored twice as Menlo beat visiting Embry-Riddle, 6-3.
Men's soccer
Menlo finished the season with their best record in 13 years after beating visiting Simpson, 7-1, on Wednesday.
The Oaks completed a 11-6-1 season, the program's best mark since going 12-5 in 1992. The Oaks also finished 5-1-1 record in the California Pacific Conference, winning their last five league games by a cumulative score of 32-1.
Senior Mike Sharabi recorded a hat trick, scoring all three goals in the first 20 minutes as the Oaks built a 6-0 halftime lead.
Senior Armando San Vincente scored twice and added an assist. Todd Jones and Philippe Anglade also scored for Menlo.
Sharabi scored twice and junior midfielder Francisco Luna added two assists as Menlo beat host William Jessup, 6-0, on Monday.
Women's volleyball
Menlo senior Kari Shimomura was named Cal Pac Conference Libero of the Week on Tuesday after leading the Menlo College women's volleyball team in total digs (59) and digs per game (6.55) over a three-match period last week.
Women's wrestling
Junior Sara Fulp-Allen recorded a 5-1 mark, earning a bronze medal, to lead Menlo at the Sunkist International Tournament last Saturday.
Fulp-Allen beat Jessica Medina of Cumberland, 4-0, 3-0, in the third-place match.
"Sara is in a good place at this stage of the season," Menlo coach Lee Allen said. "She had a very intense and successful spring and summer and is shaping up to be in top form. This is a young team with a lot of talent. As they gain more experience they will become very competitive."
Women's basketball
Menlo found itself ranked 13th in the NAIA Division II preseason national rankings which were released on Thursday.
The Oaks are coming off their most productive season ever. They finished second in the Cal Pac Conference and received votes for the Top 25.
Menlo will be tested when No. 12 Cornerstone University of Michigan comes to Atherton for the Peninsula Hoops Classic which begins on Dec. 30.
Two-time defending national champions Morningside College of Iowa is the nation's top-ranked team.
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