June 27, 2011

England-Mexico Match Recap - FIFA.com

WOLFSBURG, GERMANY - After spending their collegiate careers helping guide the Cal State Fullerton women's soccer program to new heights, a pair of former Titan standouts met on opposite sides of the field Monday, as Karen Bardsley's England squad and Marlene Sandoval's Mexico side battled to a 1-1 draw in the 2011 Women's World Cup opener for both countries in Wolfsburg, Germany.

Both were in the starting line-up for their respective sides, Bardsley (who was making her 15th appearance for the national team) in net for England and Sandoval (making her 73rd appearance for the national team) as a central defender. Fara Williams gave England the early lead with a header off a corner by teammate Karen Carney in the 21st minute, but Monica Ocampo equalized in the 33rd minute on a strike to the upper right corner to complete the scoring. England outshot Mexico, 15-10, for the match.

England will face-off against New Zealand in Dresden while Mexico will take on Japan in Leverkusen in each side's next group stage match on July 1. Japan defeated New Zealand, 2-1, in the group's first match of the day to earn three points and take the early lead in the standings.

Bardsley and Sandoval played together for four seasons for the Titans from 2002-05, helping the Titans to a 51-25-4 (.663) overall record and a 22-10-2 (.676) mark in Big West Conference play, including at least a share of three Big West titles and a trip to the NCAA Tournament Round of 16 in 2005 while compiling a school-record 19-4 overall record.

Sandoval, a four-time all-conference selection for Fullerton, was named to the NSCAA All-America Second Team and was also named the Big West Conference's Defensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2005. Bardsley, also a four-time all-conference selection, was the league's Freshman of the Year in 2002 and was named the Big West Goalkeeper of the Year three times from 2004-06.