SPC Finishes the First Phase of Strength and Conditioning Program for Azusa Pacific University's Men's and Women's Soccer Programs.

August 22, 2006, Azusa, CA - It was announced on August 2, 2006 that SPC will be the official strength and conditioning staff for APU soccer. Men's head coach Philip Wolf and women's head coach Jason Surrell met with SPC at the beginning of August to discuss the needs of both programs. SPC will spend the next year developing not only the conditioning program for both teams, but also their weight room regiment, nutritional program, and recovery/regeneration program. The end product will be a complete, year round strength and conditioning program for both the men's and women's teams.

Under the guidance of SPC director of athletic performance, Steve Tashjian, the cougars have just finished the first phase of the program, pre-season conditioning. This phase began with strength and fitness testing for both teams. Strengths and weaknesses were identified for both squads, then a strength and fitness plan was developed to carry both teams through November. All weight room and conditioning sessions were run by Steve for the first two weeks of two-a-days. Now it is up to the cougars coaching staff to carry the fitness plan through the rest of the season.

Two-thirds of the way through pre-season, on August 19th, each team had their first opportunity to test their fitness in their first scrimmages of the season. The men defeated Cal Poly Pomona 2-0 while the women tied Big West favorites Long Beach State. It was a good start to what is going to be a great year for Cougar's soccer.

The cougars will have a lot to play for this season both on the men's and women's side. Pre-season polls have the men ranked second in the nation in the NAIA while the women are ranked fifth.

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