COLLEGE SOCCER / NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS : Fullerton: Dangerfield at Davidson

When you sign a letter of intent with Cal State Fullerton, you don’t just get a promise of financial aid. You get an inferiority complex, free of charge, for use whenever that Titans-against-the-world mentality is needed, such as this weekend.

Fullerton (16-6) will play South Carolina (15-3-4) today in the NCAA men’s soccer tournament semifinals at 1:30 p.m. PST at Davidson College. At stake is a berth in Sunday’s final against the winner of today’s 11 a.m. semifinal between Virginia (20-3) and Princeton (13-4).

Think that’s enough incentive for the Titans?

Think again. In addition to battling the Gamecocks, the Titans will be fighting a perception, that East Coast soccer is superior to West Coast soccer.

“We’re not respected on the West Coast--why should we be on the East Coast?” said Fullerton goalie Mike Ammann, who has had two postseason shutouts.

“Everyone thinks Fullerton is a flash in the pan, that we got lucky and won three playoff games on the road, but our job is to prove them wrong. We want to bring respect to the school.”

They already have with road wins against Fresno State, the University of San Diego and the University of San Francisco. Even some on the East Coast have noticed.

“I have a great deal of respect for Cal State Fullerton,” South Carolina Coach Mark Berson said. “They had some good results in the regular season and some great results in the playoffs. They have a very balanced attack and a lot of experience.”

The Titans will be without a good chunk of that experience today. Sophomore midfielder Matt Bradbury, who has played every minute of every game and is the team’s second-leading scorer with eight goals and six assists, received his third yellow (warning) card of the playoffs against San Francisco and must sit out one game.

Still, Titan Coach Al Mistri is confident about his team’s chances.

“Of the four teams, we’re probably most suited to play against South Carolina,” Mistri said. “They’re a little more static than us--we move the ball around a little better. They obviously have the advantage being at home, but it’s difficult for me to believe any of these teams could have done what we did, go to Fresno, San Diego and San Francisco and win all three.”