Collis returns to spark Tigers to win

GLENDALE — The following are updates on area athletes at the collegiate level.

Luke Collis (St. Francis High, 2007) Occidental College junior quarterback: Having been sidelined for four weeks due to a leg injury, Collis returned and with his return, Occidental defeated rival Whittier, 25-22, in the annual battle for “the shoes,” a pair of bronzed cleats bestowed upon the winning team.

Of utmost importance, as well, was that Saturday’s game was the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

Collis, a former All-Area selection with St. Francis and a Nevada transfer, sparkled in his return. He completed 22 of 30 passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns against no interceptions.

His touchdown pass to Nate Sullivan served as the game-winner before throwing for a two-point conversion, as well.

On the season, which for Collis has been just two of the Tigers’ three games, he has completed 40 of 75 passes for six touchdowns, one interception and 516 yards.

The Tigers (2-1, 1-0 in conference) were coming off consecutive bye weeks and will now play at the University of La Verne in a conference contest.

Amanda Rose Johnson (Crescenta Valley High, 2010) New Mexico Highlands soccer freshman: A former All-Area and All-CIF standout, Johnson was named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s Defensive Player of the Week on Wednesday.

Johnson tallied a match and a half worth’s of shutout play.

In a 1-0 loss to Adams State on Sept. 22, she held the opposition scoreless in her 45 minutes of play and made one save. Against Regis University on Sept. 26, she notched her first college shutout with five saves in a 1-0 win.

“Johnson played well for us and had two big saves against Regis to keep the Rangers scoreless,” Coach Justin Wagar stated in a press release. “She played great for a freshman stepping up and we expect big things from her.”

On the season, Johnson’s played in eight games, starting in seven, with a 1.82 goals-against average. She’s made 28 saves with a .737 save percentage and a 3-2 record.

New Mexico Highlands is 5-4-1 and 3-2-1 in conference with a road match at Colorado Christian University on Friday.

Eric Kleinsasser (Crescenta Valley High, 2008) Occidental College cross-country junior: The former Falcons standout was the top Division III runner at the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational on Saturday.

He was 10th overall in the 8,000 meters run in 26 minutes 10.1 seconds.

The race was won in 25:29.8 by Burroughs High graduate of Western Nelson, now at Cal State San Marcos, which won the race. Former Glendale Community College standout Jonathan Alpizar took 16th overall in the race as part of San Marcos’ winning effort. He finished in 26:27.6.

The Tigers’ next meet is Oct. 16, when they travel to La Mirada for a SCIAC multi-dual meet.

Dietrich Riley (St. Francis High, 2010) UCLA football freshman: With most of his playing time having come on special teams so far, Riley saw significant time at safety on Saturday in the Bruins’ 42-28 win over visiting Washington State.

Riley had three tackles, all in one drive. He now has six tackles on the season and has played in four of his team’s five games.

Also in the game, former St. Francis three-year varsity standout Andrew Roxas got playing time on the offensive line for Washington State.

Riding a three-game winning streak, the Bruins (3-2, 1-0 Pac-10) head to the road to take on Cal on Saturday.

Angie Gonzalez (Glendale Community College, 2010) Westmont College cross-country junior: Gonzalez took sixth overall at the Westmont Invitational on Sept. 25.

She finished the 5K race in 20:38 as her team’s No. 4 finisher as Westmont won the six-team race.

Westmont returns to action Saturday at the Vanguard Invitational.

Mason Hawthorne (Crescenta Valley High, 2007) USC water polo redshirt junior: The former Falcons standout scored his first NCAA goal on Sept. 24, as the Trojans defeated Fresno Pacific, 21-4, in the opener of the Lancer Invitational in Riverside.

The No. 1 Trojans, the two-time defending national champions, defeated No. 2 UCLA, 9-8, on Sunday in the finals of the SoCal Tournament. The win improved USC to 15-0 on the season, as they will next travel to play at Stanford on Saturday.

Cristina Lucas (Glendale resident) Wellesley College cross-country sophomore: Lucas was the No. 2 finisher for her squad in consecutive meets on Sept. 18 and Sept. 25.

On Sept. 25 at the Purple Valley Classic at Williams College, Wellesley took eighth overall with Lucas finishing as the Blue’s No. 2 runner in 23 minutes 40 seconds on the 6K course, which was 32nd overall.

The week prior at the UMass-Dartmouth Invitational, Lucas aided Wellesley’s first-place showing in the 5K race. Lucas took 10th overall in 18:24.