The 49ers have started their race for first place in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation with the beginning of conference games. Their victory over UCI during the weekend pushed the 49ers up to sixth place, forcing UCI to drop down to seventh, leaving them tied with UCSB.
However, a huge obstacle stands in the 49ers near future: No. 2-ranked Stanford. The 49ers play against the Cardinals this Sunday at noon at the 49er Campus Pool. A win in this game would give the 49ers the confidence boost they need and the recognition they deserve.
In the 2007 MPSF preseason coaches poll, the 49ers were ranked to finish in eighth place, without a spot in the post-season. According to goalkeeper Steve MacKenzie, the 49ers are trying as hard as they can to change these opinions, and their recent success has put them on the right path to do so.
The 49ers have improved immensely from last season. MacKenzie said the improvement is highly due to the experience the teammates have endured while playing together last season.
“Last year, I think only one guy had playing experience,” MacKenzie said. “But I think this year, having all the experience [from last season], we’re not so timid in the water,”
The 49ers boast a stellar roster this year. In overall goals scored, the 49ers have three teammates in the top-20 MPSF rankings, including No. 8 Jeff Greenwood, No. 14 Reid Tomassi and No. 16 Jake Kinne.
Steve MacKenzie is ranked No. 3 in overall goals saved. However, the space between MacKenzie and the Cardinals’ goalie could be too close for comfort. Stanford’s Sandy Hohener is ranked No. 4 in the same category.
Nonetheless, MacKenzie is confident that he will continue to exceed everyone’s expectations.
“We as a team don’t feel that it’s going to be that tough [to beat Standford],” MacKenzie said. “It’s going to be a good game, but we feel confident that we can beat them.”
The 49ers fell they have an underlying advantage: They are the underdogs, a position they like being in.
“We know nobody respects us right now, nobody thinks Long Beach is going to be capable of anything,” MacKenzie said. “We use that toward our advantage…that if they’ll feel that way, we’ll come out and embarrass them.”If the 49ers end with a victory on Sunday, they will not only move up in the MPSF but in the national rankings as well.
The Cardinals better come prepared to play against an alpha team, because the 49ers are ready to bite.
