Riley makes first start at Rose Bowl
The following are updates on area athletes at the collegiate level.
Dietrich Riley (St. Francis High, 2010) UCLA football, sophomore: Riley was tabbed as the starter at strong safety for the first time in his collegiate career Saturday against the No. 23 ranked Texas Longhorns.
The result wasn’t one he’ll likely want to remember, though, as Texas avenged last season’s loss to the Bruins with a 49-20 road victory Saturday. Riley was in on four tackles, two solo and two assisted.
The former Golden Knight’s biggest hit of the game came when he dislodged a ball from Texas (3-0) running back Malcolm Brown. On second-and-seven and with 14:05 left in the fourth quarter, Brown took off for a six-yard run but was met by Riley, who forced a fumble. Riley recovered the loose ball for no gain, giving UCLA (1-2) the ball at Texas’ 29 yard-line.
The turnover had little meaning, as the Longhorns had already put the game out of reach with a 42-20 advantage. The Bruins drove the ball 25 yards to the four-yard line, but coughed the ball up on a fumble of their own.
Nick Posthuma (St. Francis High, 2008) Cal State Fullerton’s men’s soccer, senior: The Titans are off to their best start in over 10 years and Posthuma, an All-Big West Men’s Soccer First Team pick in 2010, has contributed to the success.
Through four games played, with two started, Posthuma has scored a goal and registered two assists, including a 21st-minute cross to Eric Escobedo in the team’s 3-0 win over host American University on Friday.
That win was the Titans’ fourth straight on the road and brought their record to 6-0, the best start since the 2001 squad did the same.
Western Nelson (Burroughs High, 2009) Cal State San Marcos men’s cross-country, junior: An All-American in 2010, Nelson is off to another fine start this season, helping the Cougars place third in the Men’s 8K Invitational at the UC Riverside Invitational on Saturday.
Nelson finished eighth overall in the race with a time of 24 minutes 16.1 seconds and came within two seconds of breaking the school record in the event.
The Cougars placed behind Southern Utah and UC Riverside.
On Sept. 10, Nelson finished fourth in the 8K at the season-opening Asics UCI Invitational in 25:11.1 to help the Cougars finish first, edging out UC San Diego.
Eric Kleinsasser (Crescenta Valley High, 2007) Occidental College men’s cross-country, senior: So far, Kleinsasser, who is looking for his fourth straight Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship, has been the top finisher in Occidental College’s first two races this year. He won the UC Riverside 8K Invitational ‘B’ race on Saturday with a time of 24:21.
His effort helped the Tigers clinch second place in the event.
It was a repeat effort from the former Falcon, after he won the UC Irvine Invitational in 25:34 on Sept. 10. Occidental came in third as a team that day. Occidental will look for a first-place finish in the Pomona-Pitzer Invite on Oct. 1. The race time is set for 8:30 a.m.