USD Plays Key Game Tonight

Tonight, USD’s soccer season really begins. It could also end.

USD plays host to No. 6 Santa Clara, NCAA co-defending champion, in a 7:30 game at Torero Stadium that could decide the West Coast Conference championship and the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

The Toreros (14-1-4, 1-1) are ranked No. 16, their highest ranking ever, and have won eight in a row.

The Broncos (10-2-3, 1-1-0) last year pinned a 5-0 loss on USD and have won four in a row. They are led by senior midfielder Jeff Baicher, who has assisted on 12 goals this year and scored four others. Junior goalie Chris Bauer has a 0.80 goals-against average and five shutouts, including four in a row.

The Toreros have six players who have reached double figures in scoring: junior forward Paul Gelvezon (nine goals, seven assists--25 points), senior midfielder Leo Ronces (6-7--19), senior midfielder Ton Crane (6-6--18), sophomore forward Charles Adair (5-8--18), sophomore midfielder Phillip Button (7-2--16), and freshman midfielder Toby Taitano (3-9--15).