Fans (and sportswriters) have been anxious to see what this year’s Long Beach State women’s soccer team will like, since the ‘Niners will be featuring plenty of new faces.  Well, the first game isn’t until August 23rd, but if you don’t want to wait that long the team will get a chance to see the team on campus this Saturday, when they host Azusa Pacific in a scrimmage at 5pm, and the campus’ first contest of the 09-10 year.

Last season, women’s soccer made the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history and won the Big West regular season title for a third straight season. Big West Midfielder of the Year Lindsay Bullock returns to anchor the middle for the 49ers, and is joined by All-Big West picks Nicole Hubbard, Kristen Kiefer and Shawna Gordon.

The scrimmage is also the first chance to look at head coach Mauricio Ingrassia’s new recruiting class, as the 49ers play an exhibition match with the Azusa Pacific Cougars. Azusa Pacific is a strong NAIA program, recording a 19-3 record last season and reaching the NAIA quarterfinals.

From LBSU reports