Young Players Help Give UCSD a Soccer Title

Freshman Mark Melnik scored a goal with 16 seconds left in the first half to snap a scoreless tie, and the UC San Diego men’s soccer team went on to a 3-0 victory over Rochester Tech for the NCAA Division III championship Saturday at Rochester, N.Y.

It is the first NCAA men’s title for the school.

Melnik’s goal, which came after he received a pass from Scott Rommel, put UCSD (23-0-2) in control.

“Once we got a goal, everybody on the team picked up,” UCSD Coach Derek Armstrong said. “I just wanted that first goal. I felt if we got that, we would win.”

In the second half, another freshman, Chris Hanssen, scored in the 62nd minute, and sophomore Wallace Whittier scored in the 72nd minute. That made it easier on goalkeeper Greg Stadler, who made 4 saves for the shutout.

Rochester Tech finished 16-1-2.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

Kim Washington had 18 kills to lead San Diego State past San Jose State, 15-11, 7-15, 15-4, 15-9, at Peterson Gym. The Aztecs (23-10) finished 10-8 in the Big West Conference. San Jose State is 20-13, 8-10.

Ruth Bajo and Anjie Rais had 13 kills apiece, but the University of San Diego finished the regular season with a 15-10, 10-15, 9-15, 15-5, 15-9 loss to St. Mary’s at Moraga. USD finished 10-17, 4-10 in the WCAC.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

William Cunningham scored 14 points and Mark Kraatz(cq) added 13 to lead Christian Heritage College (2-0) past La Verne, 76-63, in the championship game of the Christ College Irvine Tournament at Irvine.

Brian Thurston scored 26 points and Mark Ryan added 25 to lead host Point Loma Nazarene College to a 95-90 victory over Mid-America Nazarene and present first-year coach Ted Anderson with his first victory.

CROSS COUNTRY

Ronny Andersson of Point Loma Nazarene College finished 10th overall to earn All-American honors in the NAIA national championships at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in Kenosha. Anderson also was the first freshman to finish, covering the 8,000-meter course in 25:01. PLNC’s Goshu Tadese was 66th in 26:09, and Rick Penman was 194th in 27:22.