Williams Helps Loyola Advance

There was disappointment felt by the Loyola Marymount men’s soccer team last week when a loss to Santa Clara cost it a chance at winning its first West Coast Conference championship.

The spirits brightened on NCAA tournament selection day when the Lions not only received an at-large bid but got a home game in the first round against Cal State Northridge. It ended up playing a key role in Saturday’s game.

With the sun and wind at its back, Loyola Marymount controlled the second half and won, 1-0, on Danny Williams’ goal in the 73rd minute.

Williams one-timed a header off a free kick by Junior Ybarra after Bobby Burling charged with the ball and drew a foul by Matt Tracy. The goal came on the kind of play Northridge Coach Terry Davila hoped to avoid.

“We started fouling a little too much and they rely a lot on set pieces,” Davila said. “We gave up too many set pieces ... and it has a lot to do with unnecessary turnovers in that area. We didn’t handle their pressure as well as we could have.”

Goalkeeper Robert Flores helped the Lions withstand an early rush by Northridge (11-6-2), making two key saves on Will Beard in the 37th minute.

“If they had got one there,” Flores said, “that would have put pressure on us to get the equalizer.”

Coach Paul Krumpe said he believed that having home-field advantage was the deciding factor.

“We know our field real well and one of the big differences was which direction do we go on this field,” Krumpe said. “It makes a difference on this field when you’re looking into the sun instead of away from the sun.

“Northridge won the toss and they chose to go into the sun in the second half....If you’re playing against the wind and the sun, I think your guys just don’t have that extra oomph to go forward.”

Loyola Marymount (11-7-3), which defeated Northridge in the first round two years ago, will play at UCLA on Tuesday in a second-round game. The teams tied, 0-0, Sept. 19 in the Home Depot Center.

“Northridge and LMU and all the other teams in this area know you have to go through UCLA,” said Krumpe, a former UCLA star.

-- Eric Stephens

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Freshman Danesha Adams and sophomore Bristyn Davis scored and UCLA defeated Duke, 2-0, at home in a third-round NCAA women’s game.

The 14th-seeded Bruins (16-6) advanced to the quarterfinals against the winner of today’s game between Tennessee and Ohio State. Duke finished 15-8.