Record-setting 2022-23 year in Otter Athletics signals exciting season ahead

By Kevin Gilmore

Following a thrilling conclusion to the 2022-23 academic year that included a run to the NCAA Super Regional by the Otter baseball team, a first-ever trip to the Western Water Polo Association title game for water polo, and postseason berths earned by both the softball and men’s golf teams, Cal State Monterey Bay is gearing up for what promises to be a historic fall campaign to kickoff 2023-24.

Otter fans have reason to be excited as their teams will enter the new season looking to extend the best two-year run by their fall sports teams in program history. Each of the five teams competing in the fall (men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, and volleyball) enter 2023 with legitimate postseason aspirations. It all begins on Aug. 31. 

WOMEN’S SOCCER
Season opener Aug. 31 at Azusa Pacific; home opener Sept. 9 vs. Academy of Art
The Otters (7-6-5 in 2022) put a bow on their 2022 campaign by tying a school record with eight goals in an 8-0 drubbing of Cal State Dominguez Hills. Despite the final flourish, they finished one win shy of their first-ever California Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament berth last season. 

The Otters said farewell to five of their school-record seven All-CCAA selections, most notably three-time winner Jasmine Safarians and junior Mitsy Ramirez, who graduated and is pursuing her professional playing career in Mexico. Nevertheless, hopes are high for the women with a strong recruiting class to support a solid core of returners. All-CCAA striker Amelia McManus returns to continue her pursuit of the Otter record book, entering her junior season already tied for No. 4 on the Otter career scoring list with 31 points and 12 goals. Aubrey McKessy, whose 0.79 goals against average as a freshman in 2021 ranks No. 2 in Otter history, returns to anchor a stout defensive unit after redshirting in 2022.

MEN’S SOCCER
Season and home opener Sept. 1 vs. Colorado School of Mines
The Otters capped their best-ever finish in CCAA play (fourth place) with their first trip to the postseason since 2007 and their first-ever home playoff game. The team finished a solid 8-8-0 overall, including a 2-1 win at No. 20 Colorado School of Mines and a 2-2 tie at No. 7 Cal State Dominguez Hills. 

The Otters will have a few holes to fill, most notably the graduation of CCAA Defensive Player of the Year and first-team Academic All-American Colin O’Mahony. But they return three All-CCAA performers, including leading scorer Roberto Banegas (7 goals, 15 points) and play-making midfielder Miguel Guerrero. The cast of newcomers is a strong one, led by Hartnell College All-America Alan Bedolla, who scored 21 goals while leading the Panthers to the California State quarterfinals in 2022.

VOLLEYBALL
Season and home opener Sept. 1 vs. Dominican University
The 2022 Otter volleyball season got off to a roaring start when the Otters defeated No. 10 Cal State San Bernardino in the opening weekend of conference action. Unfortunately, key injuries derailed the promising beginning and kept the Otters from posting consecutive winning seasons for just the second time in program history.

The Otters bid farewell to All-CCAA outside hitter Lauren Reeves, but return top setter Ashley Vanderpan, who earned All-CCAA recognition despite missing one-quarter of the season due to injury. Senior outside hitter Kaylie Honberger returns to lead the offense as she looks to move up into the Otter Top 10 in career kills this season. Upper-class players Mikayla Nolte and Kea Veenendaal lead a promising group of middle blockers, while defensive specialists Kaila Uota and Dani Smith anchor a strong back line.

CROSS COUNTRY
No home meets. Season opens Sept. 1 at Cal Poly SLO Invitational
The 2022 CSUMB cross-country season was one for the history books. Hosting a home meet for the first time in more than a decade, the Otter women christened the new Palo Corona Cross Country Trail with a win at the CCAA Preview Meet, where the Otter men finished second. CSUMB went on to host the CCAA Championship Meet for the first time ever.

Sophomore Jaime Gonzalez broke Connor Henderson’s school 8K record in the regular season finale at the Santa Clara Bronco Invitational. Graduating senior Nathan Garcia turned in the seventh-fastest time in Otter history at the same event. On the women’s side, returning junior Lisa Irvine recorded the fifth-fastest 6K in Otter history by anybody not named Hannah Bell. Fellow junior Mackenzie Caprino, who earned All-CCAA track honors last spring, recorded a pair of Top 10 finishes in cross country and will provide the Otters with a strong pairing atop the lineup.

JOIN THE FUN
Otter fans are encouraged to show their support throughout the year. Tickets for all home events are available online. Tickets for CSUMB students, faculty and staff are free for all regular-season events. If you can’t make it to campus, all home games (and all conference road games) are broadcast on the CCAA Network.

For up-to-the-minute information, follow the Otters Athletics webpage or on Instagram/X (Twitter) at @OtterAthletics. Go Otters!