Loyola Dispatches Northridge Men

In four years, Arturo Torres has helped lift the Loyola Marymount men’s soccer program to a new level. On Saturday, Torres sent the Lions into unchartered territory.

Torres scored in the 84th minute to give the Lions a 1-0 victory over Cal State Northridge in the first round of the NCAA men’s soccer playoffs. It is their first playoff victory in just their second postseason appearance.

Junior Yuji Teranishi set up the winning play by drawing Northridge goalie Joe Barton toward the left post and sent a pass back across the goal, where Torres one-timed a header past Barton for his eighth of the season and the 46th of his career, a school record.

A skirmish between players and coaches on both sides broke out moments after Northridge coaches wanted a foul called in the penalty box near the end of regulation. Loyola assistant coach Mathes Mennell and Northridge senior defender Brian Phillips were given red cards for violent conduct. Mennell will have to sit out the Lions’ second-round match Wednesday against UCLA.

Northridge (14-5-2) nearly took the lead in the 67th minute when Daniel Paladini hit the crossbar with a shot.

“When he hit it, I thought it was going in for sure,” Torres said. “It was a wake-up call for us.”

The Lions (15-3-2) will look to avenge a 3-2 overtime loss to UCLA in the first round last year. They have defeated the Bruins in two of their last three meetings, including a 2-0 victory Sept. 22.

“Now we’re in Round 2,” Torres said. “Hopefully we can get them back.”

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WOMEN

Texas A&M; 0, UCLA 0 -- Aggie freshman goalkeeper Kati Jo Spisak was the difference as she made two saves in the shootout to help Texas A&M; (20-4-1) advance to the quarterfinals with a 3-1 victory on penalty kicks at Drake Stadium. After Whitney Jones scored, Spisak used her 6-foot-2 frame to punch away tries by Iris Mora and Allie True. Texas A&M;’s Amanda Burke, Heather Ragsdale and Laura Probst beat Sarah Lombardo on their tries and the Bruins’ Nandi Pryce missed wide to clinch the upset win for the Aggies.

Spisak made 10 saves in regulation to thwart the Bruins (18-4-0), who had a 21-0 shot advantage but couldn’t find the net.

Michigan 2, Pepperdine 0 -- Therese Heaton and Michele Pesiri scored goals in each half as the Wolverines ended the Waves’ dream season with a third-round victory at Ann Arbor, Mich.

Heaton scored her 10th goal in the 27th minute on a shot from 16 yards out after defender Andrea Kayal sent in a long pass. The Wolverines (16-6-1) tallied again in the 57th minute when Perisi beat Wave goalie Anna Picarelli.

Pepperdine finished 18-2-2.