Toreros Win All WCC Soccer Honors

Adding to what is already its greatest season, the University of San Diego earned all four major postseason awards in the West Coast Conference, WCC commissioner Michael Gilleran said Tuesday.

Chugger Adair was named offensive player of the year, Roger Lindqvist defensive player of the year, Guillermo Jara freshman of the year and Seamus McFadden coach of the year.

The Toreros, who won their first WCC championship this season, have won two NCAA playoff matches, including a 2-1 victory over fifth-ranked UCLA on Sunday, and play host to Indiana in the NCAA West Region final Sunday at 1 p.m. at Torero Stadium.

Adair, a 6-foot-5 senior forward from Hilltop High, led the WCC in goals with 15, was second in points with 40 and was named to the first team for the second time.

Lindqvist, a 6-2 sophomore sweeper from Sweden, helped fellow All-WCC first-teamer Scott Garlick to a 11-1 mark and a WCC-leading 0.831 goals-against average this season.

Jara, who tied Adair with a WCC-leading 15 goals, led the conference in assists with a school-record 16, and points with 46.

McFadden, the only coach in the 14-year history of the program, earned his second coach of the year award in three seasons, guiding the Toreros to a 17-4 mark.

In addition, midfielders Kevin Legg (Poway) and Toby Taitano (Valhalla) were named to the WCC’s second team.

Gracie Schutt, San Diego State’s all-time women’s volleyball kill leader, was named to the All-Western Athletic Conference first team for the second year in a row. She is a senior outside hitter. Jennifer Miller, a senior middle blocker, made the second team.

Jennifer Wrightson, a sophomore outside hitter from USD, was named to the All-WCC women’s volleyball team, and teammate Nikki Wallace, a junior middle blocker, made the second team.

In the first year of the USD women’s soccer program, midfielder Dawn Birdsall, a freshman from Mt. Carmel, was named to the All-WCC first team. Kelly Arthur, Mindy Campbell and Karmyn Clark made the second team.

INDOOR SOCCER

The Sockers will play overseas for the first time in their 12-year history when they take part in the Zurich Indoor International Tournament in Switzerland, Jan. 2-3. The tournament will be the first matches by the Sockers since winning their 10th indoor title in June.

Seven players from last season’s team--Gus Castaneda, Ben Collins, Alex Golovnia, Jacques Ladouceur, Jimmy McGeough, Thompson Usiyan and Wes Wade--and Coach Ron Newman will make the trip.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

UC San Diego lost its first game of the season, 69-65, to Pomona Pitzer (3-0). The Tritons (1-1) were led by Chris Moore (20 points) and Rodney Lussin (16) but were outscored in the second half, 42-30.

Point Loma Nazarene routed Christian Heritage, 107-63, behind 19 points by Shawn DeLaittre and 18 by Frank Dews. Hugo Cosio added 14 points, Charlie Simmons 13 and Josh Ivy 10 to give Dan Davis his first victory as coach at PLNC (1-1). David Piester scored 13 points for CHC (0-3).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Point Loma Nazarene edged UC San Diego, 76-75, in a thriller in La Jolla. UCSD’s Sara Mease, fouled attempting to shoot a three-pointer with two seconds left, made two of three free throws to end the scoring.

Lori Carper of PLNC and Erica Scholl of UCSD shared game-high honors with 24 points each, and PLNC’s Christy Stevens added 22. Mease scored 11.

Patricia Sencion, a San Gabriel High guard who averaged 16.5 points per game and shot 92% from the free-throw line, signed a national letter-of-intent to play at USD next season. In addition, the Toreros signed three forwards from Rancho Bernardo High, Jessica Porter and twins Lorice and Lorraine Watson.