UC San Diego’s Reign as Soccer Champ Ends in Sleet, Snow

Top-seeded UC San Diego’s bid to repeat as Division III national champions in women’s soccer was stopped in the first round of the West Regional playoffs. The Tritons fell to fourth-seeded Macalester College, 1-0, in double overtime in a game played in driving snow and sleet in Winona, Minn.

The lone score, the only shot on goal in the game for the Scots, came in the 114th minute when Jessie Ebertz headed in a 23-yard corner kick by Corie Curtis. Macalester (14-3-2) advanced to today’s West Region final against St. Benedict, Minn., which defeated St. Mary’s, Minn., 1-0.

“We played very good soccer, but the weather made the game a lottery,” UCSD Coach Brian McManus said. “The first team to make a mistake was going to lose.”

The Tritons (15-2-1) got off 20 shots, seven on goal, despite the weather, while Macalester managed just three in the game.

“By 10 minutes into the game, the field was completely slush,” McManus said. “There was sleet throughout the game.”

The defeat for UCSD means the Tritons failed to reach the national championships for just the second time since 1986. That was the Tritons’ final year under former Coach John Leaney. Leaney now coaches Macalester.

CROSS COUNTRY

The Point Loma Nazarene men’s team won the NAIA District 3 title at Morley Field to advance to the NAIA Nationals on Nov. 17 in Kenosha, Wis. PLNC, which finished with 30 points, had three runners named to the first team All-District by placing in the top seven.

Fresno Pacific placed second with 55 points. Fresno Pacific’s Jason Lindholm won the 8,000 meter race in 26:05 followed by three PLNC runners, who are also area high school graduates. Sophomore Scott Larner, a Point Loma High graduate, ran his all-time best finishing second in 26:13. Madison graduate, senior Sean O’Hara and senior Richard Penman, a Carlsbad graduate, finished third with 26:29 and fourth with 26:35 respectively.

Point Loma Nazarene’s Vanessa Couch placed third (18:40) in the women’s 5,000-meter race to advance to the nationals. Azusa Pacific’s Jenee Ellis won the race with 18:22.

Westmont, which finished with 61 points, won the district title, followed by second-place PLNC with 63 points.

VOLLEYBALL

San Diego State defeated Colorado State, 15-10, 8-15, 15-7, 13-15, 15-6, in a Western Athletic Conference match at Peterson Gym. The Aztecs (19-9, 4-3) were led by Angela Martin and Jennifer Miller with 19 kills each.

UCSD closed out the regular season defeating Cal State San Bernardino, 15-8, 15-3, 9-15, 16-14. Vikki Van Duyne had nine kills and six aces to lead the Tritons (33-8), ranked No. 2 in Division III and No. in the West Region.

Santa Clara defeated visiting University of San Diego, 18-16, 15-10, 15-9, in a West Coast Conference game. USD was led by Angie Rais with 11 kills.

MEN’S SOCCER

U.S. International lost to Air Force, 4-0, on the first day of the 16th Annual USIU Classic. Air Force (10-6-1), which scored three goals in the second half, will play Cal State LA today at noon.