Soccer Teams Prepare for Move

The Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine men’s soccer programs will leave the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation when the Big West Conference begins play in the sport next season.

“I think it’s going to be a very competitive conference next year,” Fullerton Coach Al Mistri said. “UC Riverside will be coming into the conference and playing Division I soccer for the first time, but they will have seven scholarships. We didn’t have that many scholarships until 1997.

“UC Irvine also is fully funded now. All the Big West schools are going to be putting emphasis on soccer during the fall.”

The Titans also will play a tough nonconference schedule again. Mistri has arranged games against Clemson, Stanford, California, Rutgers and St. John’s.

Irvine also plans a competitive schedule, with games against UCLA, San Jose State and University of San Diego.

START ‘EM YOUNG

Two of the 18 players signed to play baseball at UC Irvine have played in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

Chris Miller, a catcher from Cuesta College, played for the 1992 and ’93 Long Beach Little League team that earned back-to-back series titles.

West Hills Chaminade outfielder Erik Johnson played on Moorpark’s 1996 team.

Irvine is bringing back baseball in 2002 after a 10-year hiatus.

RICHARDSON IMPROVES

Cal State Fullerton guard Kevin Richardson said his 24-point performance against UC Riverside Saturday served as a boost.

“I’ve been feeling more confident all the time,” said Richardson, a walk-on transfer from Treasure Valley College in Ontario, Ore.

Richardson, who played at San Bernardino High, moved from off-guard to point guard because David Castleton isn’t eligible until mid-December. Titan Coach Donny Daniels said he is pleased with Richardson’s progress: “His concentration was better than it was in the first game [at Oregon State],” Daniels said.

NOTABLE

Junior post player Krissy Duperron has decided not to play for the UC Irvine women’s basketball team this season because of an injured foot. She is expected to remain with the team in an as yet undetermined capacity, according to a school spokesman. . . . Golden West hosts the state community college wrestling championships Friday and Saturday. Local competitors include Jack Anaya (Cypress), the Southern region champion at 125 pounds; Andy Donaldson (Santa Ana), the Southern region runner-up at 149 pounds, and Jesse Juarez (Golden West), the third-place finisher in the Southern region at 174 pounds. . . . Golden West (23-0), favored to win its eighth consecutive state community college women’s volleyball title, opens the state tournament at 8 p.m. Friday against Cabrillo of Santa Cruz. The tournament ends Sunday at San Joaquin Delta in Stockton.

Staff writer Lon Eubanks contributed to this story.

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