Point Loma Captures GSAC Cross Country Title

Point Loma Nazarene College swept the first three positions and had four runners finish in the top eight to win Saturday’s men’s Golden State Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships for the third consecutive year at Bonelli Park in San Dimas.

Sean O’Hara won the 8,000 meter race in 25 minutes 41.2 seconds, followed by Rick Penman (25:43.1) and Scott Lardner (25:43.7). PLNC finished with 27 points; Fresno Pacific was second with 59, Azusa Pacific third with 68.

PLNC’s Gus Arce (26:31.9) took eighth. Robert Keter, Doug Ravasdy and Jim Michaelien were 13th, 14th and 16th.

The PLNC women finished second to Westmont, 44-51. Anette Ronnerman (18:59) was fourth and Vanessa Couch (19:04) fifth for PLNC in the 5,000 meter race.

San Diego State’s Amy Peterson clocked 19:20 over 5,000 meters to win the University of San Diego Invitational at Morley Field. USD’s Colleen McDonough (20:35) and Julie Lemery (21:19) finished sixth and eighth for the third-place Toreras. Christian Heritage’s Heather Milner took 12th (22:05). USD’s Max Lawson, 14th in 16:42, keyed a fourth-place finish for the men.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

UC San Diego swept Occidental, 15-8, 15-8, 15-3, to improve to 23-6 and 10-0 against Division III opponents. Elizabeth Tan had nine kills and Dana Simone eight for UCSD, ranked No. 1 in Division III. Occidental fell to 14-10.

PLNC defeated Christ College Irvine, 15-9, 15-3, 15-9, to remain unbeaten in eight GSAC matches. The Crusaders are 18-6 overall. Roberta Simpson had 11 kills and Leanne Lopez had 35 assists for PLNC.

U.S. International sophomore setter Jennifer Castillo, from Mt. Carmel, was named to the Mizuno Titan Classic all-tournmament team at Cal State Fullerton. The Gulls (7-16) lost to Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, 12-15, 11-15, 15-13, 15-10, 15-9, despite leading 12-3 in the third game. Stephanie Milbradt had 20 kills. USIU then defeated William and Mary, 15-6, 8-15, 12-15, 15-12, 15-11, behind Heather Kelley’s 22 kills.

MEN’S SOCCER

The Sockers closed out preseason play with a 6-3 loss to the Stars at the Tacoma Dome. Paul Wright, Rod Castro and Keder scored for the defending indoor champions. Castro and David Banks had assists for the Sockers.

The Sockers, 1-1 in preseason play, begin their Major Soccer League campaign Friday in Kansas City. The home opener is Nov. 2 against St. Louis.

Steve Cokkinis scored twice in the first half and PLNC made it stand up in a 2-1 GSAC victory at Fresno Pacific. Cokkinis, who now has 10 goals, scored on assists by Dennis Vargas and Robert Romero. PLNC is 6-4-1, 3-1, Fresno Pacific 5-8-1, 1-2.

Christian Heritage goalie John Garretson had a school-record 20 saves, but it wasn’t enough in a 6-1 loss to Westminster. Nathan Kingham scored the goal for Christian Heritage (2-5).

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Sandra Wright and Nicki Roche, both Santana High graduates, scored two goals apiece and Kelly Pietila added another as USIU scored a 5-0 victory over visiting Westmont College. Roche also had an assist for the Gulls (5-8-1). Lisa Ferragamo had two assists. Freshman goalie Amy Love posted her first shutout. Westmont is 1-8-2.

Goalie Lorena Snyder’s second straight shutout led SDSU (6-4-1) to a 2-0 victory over UC Irvine. Laurie Christensen and Merris Welch scored for the Aztecs.

WOMEN’S TENNIS

Fifth-seeded Tonya Fuller of USD defeated Arizona State’s Krista Amend 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, 7-6 (6-4) to advance to today’s finals of the Rolex ITCA Southern California Championships at UC Irvine. Fuller will play Arizona’s Danielle Scott, the fourth seed, after she beat top-seeded Giovanna Carotenuto of USIU, 6-0, 6-2.

SDSU’s Dorey Brandt and Nicole Storto advanced to the doubles finals after beating Cammie Foley and Iwalani McCalla of UCLA in the semifinals, 7-6 (8-6), 6-3. Foley attended Bonita Vista High.