CSUN University News Clippings

Senior Kristal Phillips has been playing well with CSUN’s women’s soccer

(October 30, 2008)

By Charles Rich

GLENDALE — The following are updates on area athletes at the collegiate level.

Ramses Barden (Flintridge Prep, 2004) senior wide receiver, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo football: Barden was one of four athletes named to The Sports Network’s FCS National Players of the Week.

The 6-6 Barden helped the Mustangs pick up a 69-41 Great West Conference victory at home against Southern Utah on Saturday.

He caught a career-high 12 catches for 217 yards and two touchdowns, breaking Darrell Jones’ school record for career receptions with 181 and snapping Jerry Rice’s NCAA FCS mark for most games catching a touchdown pass at 27. Barden had a huge first quarter, catching touchdown passes of 12 and 41 yards.

The Mustangs improved to 5-1 and 2-0 in conference. They are ranked third in the Football Championship Subdivision Coaches poll and fourth in the Sports Network media poll.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo will face visiting Idaho State at 6:05 p.m. Saturday.

Vivian Wadeck (Glendale Community College, 2008) junior, Cal State Los Angeles women’s cross-country: Wadeck, who helped the Vaqueros win the women’s state championship last year, and the Eagles finished second in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. Women’s Cross Country Championships at Glen Helen Regional Park on Saturday in Devore.

Wadeck was tabbed the Athlete of the Meet after she turned in a course-record time of 21 minutes 27 seconds to win the race. She also was tabbed the CCAA Newcomer of the Year.

Cissy Butler (Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, 2005) senior goalkeeper, Point Loma Nazarene women’s soccer: Butler played every minute of a pair of Golden State Athletic Conference matches, posting two shutouts, and was named the conference’s Women’s Defensive Player of the Week for the week of Oct. 13.

Point Loma Nazarene is 9-4-2 and 2-3-2 in conference through Saturday.

Butler finished with five saves in a scoreless tie against Westmont College on Oct. 11. She collected seven saves in another scoreless tie against Vanguard University on Oct. 7.

Butler has recorded 19 saves in seven appearances this season.

Vanuhi Ovasapyan (Glendale High, 2007) sophomore driver, Los Angeles Valley College women’s water polo: The former All-Area first-team selection, who attended Pasadena City College last season, has recorded 28 goals, 21 assists and 29 steals for the Monarchs this season.

Ovasapyan finished with three goals, four assists and two steals on Oct. 22 to help Valley College pick up a 22-6 Western State Conference road win against Santa Monica City College.

Valley College is 17-6 and 3-1 in conference this season.

Kristal Phillips (Hoover High, 2004) senior forward, Cal State Northridge women’s soccer: Phillips, a former All-Area first-team pick, assisted on a match-winning goal by Nancy Avesyan in the 88th minute to give the Matadors a 2-1 victory against University of the Pacific in a Big West Conference home contest Oct. 19.

Phillips finished with four shots on goal in a scoreless conference tie against UC Irvine on Oct. 23.

Through Sunday, Phillips has recorded two goals and five assists for nine points in 15 matches played this season. She’s recorded 15 shots on goal and 26 overall for the CSUN (7-8-2, 2-3-1 in conference).

Kelly Smiland (Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, 2005) senior outside hitter, Chico State women’s volleyball: Smiland, the 2004 All-Area Girls’ Volleyball Player of the Year, finished with nine kills, eight digs and three aces to spark the visiting Wildcats to a 25-19, 25-20, 25-20 victory against Humboldt State in a California Collegiate Athletic Assn. match Oct. 18.

In a CCAA match against Sonoma State on Oct. 17, Smiland registered 17 digs to help Chico State improve to 15-9 and 8-6.

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CHARLES RICH covers sports. He can be reached at (818) 637-3228 or charles.rich@latimes.com.

Publication: Glendale News Press