Approaching the last part of the season, the CSU East Bay women’s soccer team heads into the weekend with a 4-7-1 overall record.
Over the weekend, the Pioneers took one of two games at home, snapping a four game losing streak.
CSUEB defeated CSU Monterey Bay on Sunday with a final score of 3-0, sending the Otters home with their second consecutive loss of the season against the Pioneers.
Cal State Hayward alumnus Amy Gerace is in the midst of her 11th season as head coach of the Pioneers.
Having led the Pioneers through its transition from Division III to Division II in the CCAA. Gerace understands the different level of play between the two divisions.
The team’s weakness, according to Gerace, is the team’s lack of games played in the conference at such a competitive level in the CCAA.
“We’re lacking experience in the conference but we need to continue to work our way up to the CCAA level,” said Gerace. “What we have going for us is that our core group of players have been playing together for quite some time. They are a close knit group which shows on the field in their desire to be successful.”
The Pioneers returned with the majority of the players this season from last year, including nine starters.
The 2010 season saw the lady Pioneers finish with a 6-10-3 overall record, a record that they are on pace to beat this year.
Senior and team captain Breanna Baker has played a pivotal role for the Pioneers this season as their leading defender.
“Bre is an awesome player both on and off the field,” said Gerace. “She’s as solid as a rock in the back for us.”
The Pioneers are currently sitting with a losing record and losing conference record at 3-6-1, lacking in consistency both offensively and defensively.
In four of their seven overall losses on the season, they have been outscored by at least two goals.
Although the Pioneers aren’t making moves in the CCAA just yet, Gerace and the rest of the team remain optimistic about the rest of the season.
“We take pride in our new stadium here at East Bay and we hope to get the fans out here to watch us the rest of the way,” said Gerace.
East Bay will host their CCAA competition Humboldt and Sonoma State this weekend on Friday night and Sunday afternoon, respectively.
