Loyola Marymount has won exactly 10 games in each of the past three women’s soccer seasons.
Just good enough to finish in the top half of the West Coast Conference — but not good enough to qualify for the Big Dance.
Seniors Brittney Sanford and Erin Rementer hope to finish their run with the Lions with at least one game in the NCAA tournament.
This season marks the end of not only two successful collegiate careers, but also a 15-year run the two have had playing together since the very first days they touched a soccer ball.
"Technically we were on the same AYSO team when we were like 5 (years old)," said Sanford, who won a state title at Punahou with Rementer.
"We have our days, but we’ve always been friends," added Rementer.
Both had their moments at Punahou, where Sanford was named All-ILH three times and led the league in scoring in 2007.
Rementer was a first-team all-state selection as a senior, when she led the ILH in scoring, helping the Buffanblu make the state final.
Both were recruited by similar schools, including LMU, Santa Clara and Washington State.
They went on the same recruiting trips and ultimately decided on sticking together at LMU, despite a last-minute coaching change.
"Literally a month before we were due to report we found out that our coach that recruited us wasn’t going to be there anymore and had a chance to look at other options," said Rementer, who was a Soccerbuzz.com Top 100 recruit.
"We decided to stick it out (at LMU) and it’s ended up being pretty good."
Sanford, who says she’s "very satisfied" with her time at LMU, bounced between defense and midfield during her first three years.
She’s played entirely at center midfield her senior year and has responded with a career-high three goals in nine games.
ERIN REMENTER
School: Loyola Marymount Class: Senior Height: 5 feet 4 Position: F/MF High school: Punahou (2008) Career stats
Year |
GP-GS |
Sh |
G |
A |
Pts |
2008 |
18-3 |
8 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
2009 |
18-16 |
26 |
5 |
0 |
10 |
2010 |
17-12 |
10 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2011 |
9-6 |
7 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
Total |
62-37 |
51 |
8 |
1 |
17 |
BRITTNEY SANFORD
School: Loyola Marymount Class: Senior Height: 5 feet 6 Position: MF/D High school: Punahou (2008) Career stats
Year |
GP-GS |
Sh |
G |
A |
Pts |
2008 |
18-3 |
9 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
2009 |
18-6 |
8 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2010 |
18-17 |
12 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
2011 |
9-9 |
9 |
3 |
1 |
7 |
Total |
63-35 |
38 |
5 |
7 |
17 |
|
"Center mid is my position," Sanford said. "So far I think this is the best soccer we’ve played as a team since I’ve been here and this is probably the best start we’ve had."
The Lions are 6-2-1 after a loss to UCLA, which is ranked second in the nation.
LMU opened the season with a win in Austin, Texas, against the then-18th-ranked Longhorns.
The Lions shut out three consecutive opponents before the loss to the Bruins, and have two nonconference games, including a home match against Cal State Northridge on Friday, before opening conference play at San Francisco on Oct. 7.
"This is the closest I think our team is going to get to make the NCAA tournament," Rementer said. "If we keep it up and keep sticking to the plan, I think we have a good chance of making the tournament."
Rementer began the year in the starting lineup, but has come off the bench in her past three games.
She admits finding difficulty in adjusting to the style of play at the Division I level, but came back to score a career-high five goals as a sophomore.
After she was shut out as a junior, she scored her first goal in two years in a win over Long Island and is focused on finishing out the season strong.
"Overall, it’s been a bumpy ride, but my experience has been positive," she said. "Coming in, I had high expectations for myself. … I haven’t started the last couple of games, but I’m still getting a lot of playing time and working hard to get my starting spot back."
Neither is sure whether they will return to Hawaii after college, but there’s no doubt Sanford is the more likely of the two.
All one has to do is see her uniform in some of LMU’s "colder" games in recent years.
"Last year I thought it was pretty cold at Pepperdine so I wore my Under Armour as well as my long-sleeved jersey and these head things and gloves and pulled my socks all the way up," Sanford said. "Everyone looked at me like I was a weirdo.
"I can’t handle the rain and the cold at all."