RAMS OPEN NEW BALANCE SHOWCASE TODAY IN VENTURA

VENTURA, Calif. - Head Coach Oliver Germond and the Fresno City women's soccer team face their first road test this season, when they travel to Southern California for a pair of contests in the New Balance Showcase this week.  The Rams (1-0), fresh off a 1-0 home victory last Friday over visiting Las Positas, will open tonight against Citrus College before closing out the event Saturday morning against East Los Angeles College.

Fresno City will open the event later today when they take on Citrus (1-1), who opened up the showcase Thursday night with a 2-1 victory over Santa Barbara.  The Owls will look to extend their winning streak against a Rams team that has had plenty of experience versus So Cal competition over the years.  The Rams went 1-1-1 against So Cal opponents last season, including a win over Orange Coast, and draw against Cypress in last year's showcase.

"We are excited to head down south and play a couple games," said Head Coach Oliver Germond prior to the weekend.  "We feel it's important to try and play good teams every game, not just for power points for playoffs, but also to keep improving."

The Rams head into the showcase a week after their 2019 season debut, a 1-0 shutout victory over visiting Las Positas College of Livermore.  "It took us at least a half to click offensively," said Germond of his team's performance in the opener.  "I felt we were more aggressive in the attacking third compared to the first half."  Fresno City, known for being defensive stalwarts, limited the visiting Hawks scoring chances throughout the contest.  Las Positas managed only three shots on goal, failing to counter Itzel Rodriguez's goal on a free kick in the 55th minute, which solidified the Rams victory in their season opener.  "Our (team) did a great job adjusting to what we gave them for the second half."

Fresno City opens up the showcase tonight at 6 PM against Citrus, before closing out the event tomorrow morning at 10:30, when they take on East Los Angels College.  ELAC opens their season tonight when they take on College of the Canyons.  Coach Germond and his staff hope to have a better feel for their club following the two-day event.  "I feel like it takes a few games to get a feel on what our players can do in game situations, and where they can help the team best."  "I'm excited about our team, they've been working so hard and I like how we are competing."

The Rams will head north next week to take on American River College before returning to Fresno for their next home match, when they'll host Bakersfield on Tuesday September 10th.