SportsScope : Struggling Toro Soccer Team Starts Conference Action

The Cal State Dominguez Hills men’s soccer team faces its first weekend of California Collegiate Athletic Assn. play, traveling to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Saturday for a 7:30 p.m. game. The Toros (2-6-1 entering the week), who tied for second last year, are led by sophomore Joe Flanagan with 7 goals and 2 assists. The Toros play three conference games on the road before returning home for five straight. Cal State Northridge, ranked fifth in Division II, is favored to win the conference title.

The Dominguez Hills women’s soccer team, 7-4-1 and ranked fourth in the West, has the weekend off before playing U.S. International University at home at 3 p.m. Monday. The women won their Toro Cup Tournament over the weekend to run their home unbeaten streak to 14 games. The Lady Toros haven’t lost at home since September, 1985, and in those games have outscored opponents, 46-6. This year they are 7-0 at home and have outscored foes by 20-1. The leader of the attack is senior Michele Salas, who scored two goals last week to become the school’s career leader in goals (23) and points (63). She has 8 goals and 4 assists this season.

El Camino College, ranked second in the state and nation in community college football, opens South Coast Conference play at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College. El Camino, 3-0, is coming off a bye. In other community college games Saturday, Harbor (2-2 overall, 2-1 in the Southern California Athletic Conference) plays a conference game at 1 p.m. at Rio Hondo and L.A. Southwest College (1-3 overall, 1-2 in the SCAC) plays Victor Valley College at Victor Valley High School.

The 19th-ranked UCLA soccer team, coming off an overtime upset of No. 4 Fresno State, will play in the Pacific-10 Conference tournament this weekend at Stanford. UCLA (6-3) will open at noon Saturday against UC Berkeley (6-3-2). Other teams competing are Stanford and Washington. UCLA extended its home unbeaten streak to 20 games with the 2-1 victory over Fresno. Junior Nick Skvarna scored both UCLA goals, giving him 5 for the season and 3 in 3 games.

Cal State Dominguez Hills’ women’s volleyball team, 3-13 overall and 0-3 in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn., plays a non-conference match Saturday at Biola, then is at home at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday against Cal State Bakersfield. The Lady Toros played competitive games but lost their first CCAA matches last week to Cal Poly Pomona and UC Riverside, both nationally ranked.

The Gardena Recreation and Human Services Department will certify coaches through the National Youth Sports Coaches Assn., with emphasis on football. The city is sponsoring coaches who will work in its youth sports programs. There is a $15 fee for others. Those certified for baseball only must attend the football meeting Oct. 14 at Nakaoka Community Center, 1700 West 162nd St. Those seeking initial certification may attend the Oct. 14 meeting or additional meetings later in October. Subjects include psychological and emotional needs of children in sports, safety and first aid, conditioning and flexibility and teaching skills and techniques. Upon completion of the program, coaches receive liability insurance through the association.

The Loyola Marymount University men’s soccer team, 3-8-2, finished a Northern California trip with a 7-0 loss at Santa Clara and has a break in the schedule before its only home game of the month on Oct. 21 against UC Irvine. The Lions lost at St. Mary’s and San Jose by 4-1 scores Sunday and Monday. The Lions offense is led by Steven Burke with six goals. No other player has more than one. Goalie Parker Schenken has three shutouts.

The Loyola Marymount water polo team plays four straight home games starting with a 3:30 p.m. match Friday against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The Lions play Cal State San Bernardino at noon Saturday, Chaminade at 3:30 p.m. Monday and Occidental next Thursday. The Lions finished third in the Chapman Invitational last weekend to bring their record to 8-5. Doug Pitts, who had 11 goals in the tournament, has 20 to lead the offense. Goalie Mark Klingsberg made 30 saves over the weekend to raise his season total to 102.