USD Soccer in Division I Playoffs

Capping its finest season ever, the University of San Diego men’s soccer team was selected Monday to participate in the NCAA Division I playoffs for the first time.

“Eleven years of frustration, we finally put it to rest,” said USD Coach Seamus McFadden, who has guided the Toreros to five consecutive winning seasons since coming to USD in 1980.

USD (15-2-5) will play its first-round match at 1 p.m. Sunday at Portland, a team USD defeated, 2-0, last Sunday to end the regular season. USD is fourth-seeded in the seven-team West Region. Portland (12-5-1) is fifth-seeded, prompting the question, why do the Toreros have to travel, especially since the winner plays top-seeded UCLA in the second round in Los Angeles?

“It’s not based on seedings,” McFadden said. “It’s based on geographics and economics. Portland has a new multi-million-dollar complex, and they really pack ‘em in up there.”

Portland, which has sold out (5,000) every home match this season, was able to guarantee the NCAA another sold-out house for the playoffs. USD could not make such a guarantee.

Despite having to travel, McFadden is pleased with the announcement.

“There’s always doubt until you actually see it,” he said.

In 1986, USD had the best record in the nation--19-4-1--but did not make the playoffs.