Rigamat’s Goal Is Enough for Bruins

UCLA’s Stephanie Rigamat is often kindly referred to as a pest. Quick and full of grit, the 5-foot-3 forward always seems to bug opposing defenders.

When it seemed as if the Bruin attack bogged down in the second half of their NCAA Women’s College Cup semifinal match against Portland, Rigamat’s persistence paid off. The junior scored off a header with less that 14 minutes remaining to lift UCLA to its first title match with a 1-0 victory over the Pilots on Friday night at Spartan Stadium.

The Bruins (19-3-1) continue to forge new ground after making their first Final Four appearance in the eight-year history of the program. In front of them stands 15-time NCAA champion North Carolina, which defeated Notre Dame, 2-1, to advance to Sunday’s title match.

Rigamat punched the Bruins’ ticket to the final by scoring off a cross by senior midfielder Venus James. She beat Portland defender Erin Goodling to the ball and headed it past Pilot goalkeeper Cheryl Loveless in the 77th minute.

“I wasn’t getting it done with my feet on the field,” said Rigamat, who scored her 13th goal. “It was wet and slippery out there. I figured I might as well get it done with the header.”

Rigamat has been dominant in the postseason, scoring three goals and three assists in the Bruins’ four victories. But she was quick to credit James on the goal.

“It was a great cross,” she said. “I had the easy part.”

Loveless said she was defenseless after breaking to her left and watching the ball fly past her.

“It was a great goal,” the Portland goalie said. “I pretty much had no chance on it. The girls had a near-post header and it caught me going to the wrong side.”

It seemed as if UCLA would go without scoring after squandering several opportunities late in the first half.

With 15 minutes left, UCLA Coach Jillian Ellis put in forwards Staci Duncan and Sarah-Gayle Swanson to provide some fresh legs. They almost did more than that.

At 30:49, Duncan made a move on a Portland defender on the left side and sent a cross toward the goal. Swanson timed her header perfectly but the ball caromed off the crossbar. Duncan and Rigamat nearly set up another goal but Swanson’s header wasn’t as sharp and Loveless made an easy save. Minutes later, James sent a pass toward the goal and Rigamat nearly reached it with a slide attempt.

Swanson followed the play and took a shot but Loveless came up with a diving save to her right. Loveless made four saves in the half.

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Freshman Jordan Walker scored with 7:27 left as North Carolina rallied in the second half and defeated top-ranked and previously unbeaten Notre Dame, 2-1, in the other semifinal.

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The Cal State Dominguez Hills men’s soccer team advanced to its first national championship game with a 1-0 victory over Lewis University in an NCAA Division II semifinal match at Miami Shores, Fla.

After a scoreless first half, Sean Lockhart scored an unassisted goal from 30 yards out in the 86th minute for Dominguez Hills (22-1-1), the nation’s No. 1 team. The goal was set up when Lockhart intercepted a pass in midfield and dribbled 15 yards before drilling it past Lewis’ goalie Andrew Barks.

Dominguez Hills will play Barry University in the championship Sunday at 10 a.m. Barry defeated East Stroudsburg State, 2-1, in the second semifinal Friday.

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NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship

At Spartan Stadium, San Jose

SEMIFINALS

Friday

* North Carolina 2, Notre Dame 1

* UCLA 1, Portland 0

CHAMPIONSHIP

Sunday

* North Carolina (20-3-0) vs. UCLA (19-3-1), 12:30 p.m. (ESPN2)